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THE 



CHRONIC DISEASES: 



SPECIFIC NATURE 



HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT. 



Dr. SAMUEL HAHNEMANN. 

TRANSLATED AND EDITED 
BY 

CHARLES J. HEMPEL, M.D. 

WITH A PREFACE 

By CONSTANTINE HERING, M.D. 



NEW-YORK: 
WM. RADDE, 322 BROADWAY, 



18 45, 






4i 



<4 



ft 



o 



&- 



Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1845, by 

WILLIAM RADDE, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New-York. 



L t 1 

r I 4 



H. LUDWIO, PRINTER, 

70 & 72, Vesey-street. 



a... 



TO THfi 

HOMEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS 

OF 

THESE UNITED STATES, 
THIS PUBLICATION IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED. 



This is the first English translation which has ever appeared 
of Hahnemann's Chronic Diseases. It is needless to inquire 
why this admirable volume which incloses so many important 
truths, the proper knowledge and appreciation of which is in- 
dispensable to the homoeopathic practitioner, should never have 
before appeared in an English dress. As this omission cannot 
have originated in indifference on the part of Hahnemann's dis- 
ciples, the presumption is either that those few homoeopathic 
physicians who are really imbued with the spirit of Hahnemann's 
doctrine, have been prevented by the pressure of business from 
undertaking the translation of this work, or else, that they were 
not sufficiently conversant with both the German and the En- 
glish languages, to accomplish such a translation to their perfect 
satisfaction. 

But for the admirable truths which Hahnemann points out in 
this volume, it probably would never be read in German. Hahne- 
mann's phraseology is so involved, and bears so little resemblance 
to the usual modes of constructing periods, either in German or 



IV 

any other language, that it is utterly impossible to furnish a bare 
translation of Hahnemann's writings. There is but one way 
of turning them into another language ; this is, first, to master 
the sense of a period, and afterwards to embody it in the foreign 
tongue in a free manner. This is the course which I have pur- 
sued in translating this volume. I have not translated words 
but ideas. And the ideas I have rendered fully and faithfully : 
on this head I challenge criticism. 

Of the merits of Hahnemann's theory of chronic diseases, I 
have nothing to say. It is not received with the same unbound- 
ed confidence by all homoeopathic practitioners ; but I venture to 
say that its general principles are fully admitted by all those who 
have a true perception of the spirit of the homoeopathic doctrine. 

It cannot be expected that the homoeopathic doctrine should 
be fully understood as long as our knowledge of the nature and 
operations of the vital principle is deficient. Hahnemann's con- 
ception of the action of the homoeopathic drug was altogether 
vague, incomplete, and even erroneous. My own conception of 
the homoeopathic doctrine I have brought before the profession 
in my inaugural thesis. It is substantially as follows ; and I 
wish it to be understood that I give it not as a mere speculation, 
but as a demonstration, so far, that is to say, as any physical 
truth can be demonstrated in the present state of our knowledge. 

Inductive reasoning leads us necessarily to the admission of 
two orders of creative forces, one of which may be designated 
by the term harmonic, the other by the term subversive. The 
harmonic forces, by their action upon matter, produce those sub- 
stances, animals, plants, and minerals, which are necessary to 
the development of the harmonious or healthy organism ; the 
subversive forces, on the contrary, are those forces which pro- 
duce the substances adapted to the organism in disturbance, and 
destined to restore it to its original conditions of health. Both 
those forces, by their action upon matter, embody themselves in 



translator's preface. V 

visible forms, each form representing or typifying a peculiar va- 
riety of those forces. The types or results which those forces 
create by their action upon matter, are united to those forces by 
that same indivisible bond which unites the effect to its cause. 

The idea of a machine, and the machine itself, though they 
seem to be two distinct things, are nevertheless united to each 
other in such an indivisible manner as to make it utterly impossi- 
ble to think of one separately from the other. The idea will 
at once call up the machine, and on viewing the machine, you 
are involuntarily reminded of the idea. The existence of a bond 
uniting effects to their causes, cannot be denied, although the na- 
ture of that bond may be totally unknown. 

So far I have shown the existence of subversive creative forces 
and their subversive results, these latter being indivisibly united to 
the former These results are the natural bases, or forms, or or- 
ders of existence of those forces. The embodying of those 
forces in their natural physical forms is effected according to or- 
der. But it often happens that those forces, instead of acting 
upon or embodying themselves in matter, act upon, and try to 
embody themselves in the animal organism. They then endea- 
vour to adapt the animal organism to their own nature. This 
adaptation can only be completed by first destroying the organ- 
ism, converting it to formless matter, and then impressing upon 
this formless matter their own creative energy. 

It is evident that the animal organism is not the type or natu- 
ral order of existence of those subversive forces. Hence there 
is no bond of union between these forces and the organism, and 
it must be possible to separate them. As the invasion of the 
organism by those forces and their attempts at adapting the or- 
ganism to themselves constitute disease, so does the separation 
of those forces from the organism constitute the cure of that disease. 
The question then is, how are those forces to be separated from 
the organism ? 



vi translator's preface. 

The answer to this question is perfectly simple and self-evi- 
dent. We introduce into the organism the natural types or forms 
of existence of that variety of subversive forces which has in- 
vaded the organism. These types being united to the forces by 
that indivisible bond which I have shown to exist between effects 
and their causes, the disease will, of its own accord, and with 
readiness, leave the organism which is not its natural product or 
type, and embody itself in its natural typo which is the medici- 
nal substance. How this embodying takes place is to be shown 
by the farther progress of science. It i<= probable that the typi- 
cal substance acts upon the subversive force with a power of at- 
traction. The subversive force flows into or converges in the me- 
dicinal substance which is its type. In tin y do the 
sun's rays converge in the focus of a burning-glass, does the 
magnetic sphere of this globe converge in the point of a neeille 
and its attractive force act upon the Bmallesl Dp In order 
to find out what medicinal substance is typical of any given va- 
riety of the subversive force-, we must, in the first place t: 
discover the symptoms of the diseases which are embodied in the 
various medicinal substances. For this purpose v\e try them 
upon the healthy organism. The symptoms which are thus 
evoked in the organism are indications of the effects which a 
certain order of subversive forces is capable of producing in the 
organism. To the medicinal substances producing those symp- 
toms, this certain order of subversive forces is therefore related as 
causes are to their effects, and as soon as they are brought in con- 
tact with each other, they become indissolubly united, the disease 
becomes a mere material point, and is separated from the organ- 
ism in perfect freedom, and what is essential, in perfect order. 

So far my conception of the homoeopathic doctrine, in its 
general nature at least, amounts to a demonstration. But now 
the question occurs : by what process, in w^hat manner does the 
invasion of the organism by the subversive forces take place and 



translator's preface. vii 

is disease constituted 1 Here, I confess, science leaves us al- 
together, and any attempt at solving this problem, must neces- 
sarily be speculative reasoning. 

One thing however is yet sufficiently clear; it is this, that the 
human organism cannot be invaded by disease unless it has first 
undergone a process of adaptation to the nature of a certain 
order of the subversive forces. An indigestion, for instance, can 
only take place, when the original harmony or equilibrium of the 
organism has been interfered with by substances having been 
introduced which are not adapted to the organism, or by those 
substances having been introduced in too large a quantity or at 
improper hours. What is termed indigestion, is therefore the 
effects of a peculiar order of subversive forces acting upon the 
organism existing in a peculiar state of preparatory adaptation. 
It is so with every other disease. Disease is the totality of the 
effects by which we recognise or perceive the action of a peculiar 
order of subversive forces upon an organism which has been ex- 
ceptionally or specially adapted to, or prepared for their reception, 

Hahnemann's theory of Chronic diseases corresponds exactly 
with my conception of the homoeopathic doctrine. The itch- 
vesicle, the chancre, and the cauliflower excrescence, are vicarious 
embodiments of some internal disease, in a similar way as the 
homoeopathic medicinal substance is the external visible type 
or embodiment of the internally acting subversive forces. There 
is this difference between that vicarious embodiment of the in- 
ternal disease and the homoeopathic type, that the latter may be 
introduced into the organism and be again, by its own choice, 
separated from it together with the disease, whereas the vi- 
carious embodiment of the internal disease is the measure of the 
degree and mode of adaptation which the subversive forces 
have accomplished in the organism. Hence the vicarious em- 
bodiment or symptom is a mere palliative, whereas the ho- 
moeopathic type has a curative effect. 



vm translator's preface. 

Hahnemann's theory of Chronic diseases strikes a death-blow 
at those violent modes of invading the living organism, which- 
are practised by the allcecpathic physicians. The contents or 
the secretions of an organ are exactly proportionate to, or are the 
exact measure of the peculiar state of vitality of the organ. If 
the organ be invaded by subversive forces, those contents or se- 
cretions indicate the degree ofadaptatii n existing between the 
subversive forces and the organ. Those contents act as pal- 
liatives inasmuch as they appease to a certain extent the fury of 
the invading forces. To deprive those forces of results which 
they claim as their legitimate p rope rty , would be to excite them 
into a more violent action and to c.um them I the more 

delicate parts of the organism. I have explained this view more 
fully in my inaugural thesis and in my note on blood-letting. 
Allceopathic physicians and pet pie generally are inclined to 
believe that retching indicating f vomiting, or that te- 

nesmus indicating a desire of going to Btool, the system, in both 
these instances, may be and ought to be relieved by an en 
or a cathartic. To administer these violent remedial agents, is 
a foolish mode of relieving the system. Spontaneous vomiting 
or a spontaneous evacuation of the intestines may afford relief, 
because they are the natural terminations of a morbid develop- 
ment ; but those artificial evacuations, though they may, for ob- 
vious reasons, by establishing a momentary counter-irritation 
for example, be momentarily followed by a semblance of relief, 
are not natural terminations of a morbid process, but they are 
concussions of the system taking place independently of the 
isting invasion of the organism by the subversive forces. Retch- 
ing and tenesmus simply show that the subversive forces have 
not yet succeeded in adapting the organism to their own action, 
and that, so far from favouring this action by artificial means, 
the organism may be the more easily disembarressed from it by 
the homceopathic type. 



The conception which I have offered of the homoeopathic doc- 
trine explains to a certain extent the rationale of the peculiar 
mode prescribed by Hahnemann for the preparation of homoeo- 
pathic remedial agents. The medicinal substances are material 
forms in which the subversive forces have embodied their essence 
or spirit. That essence exists therefore in its fulness, though in 
a latent condition, in the medicinal substances. Now, in order 
that points of contact, of attractive affinity, may be established 
between the homoeopathic type and the subversive forces which 
have invaded the organism, it becomes first necessary that the 
medicinal substance should, from its material nature, be raised 
to what Hahnemann terms a semi-vital or spiritualized con* 
dition. We know of no better mode to obtain this result than 
the mode of trituration proposed by Hahnemann. To excite the 
latent life or heat-principle of any known substance we resort to 
friction. We draw fire from wood by rubbing one piece against 
another. By friction we excite sparks from pebbles. By fric- 
tion we excite the electric fluid. If any one knows a better 
mode than Hahnemann's of spiritualizing the typical forms of 
the forces productive of disease, let him propose it. The sub- 
sequent process of shaking is evidently analogous to the process 
of trituration. I believe, although I can only give this as a 
mere speculation, that the homoeopathic preparation, be it ad- 
ministered in the form of a globule, powder, or drop, introduces 
into the organism an intermediate sphere of a semi-spiritual and 
semi-material nature, that the subversive forces flow into or con- 
verge in that sphere by virtue of its attractive spiritual power, 
and become gradually materialized by uniting themselves with 
the material nature of the sphere ; after this process of material- 
isation is completed, the subversive forces leave the organism, 
together with their type, in perfect freedom, and, as 1 said above, 
in perfect order. 

It is evident from what I have here advanced that the attractive 



x translator's preface. 

spiritual force of the homoeopathic preparation increases in pro- 
portion as the process of trituration is carried up to a higher de- 
gree. Nevertheless there must be a limit beyond which the 
attractive spiritual force of the intermediate sphere may cease to 
act, on account of being raised above the spheres from which 
the subversive forces themselves emanate. The great difficulty, 
it seems to me, is, to discover the point, where the attractive 
force of the homoeopathic type will exercise its due influence 
over the subversive forces in the organism. Can this focus of 
attraction be determined by experiment] Does it depend upon 
the nature of the medicinal substance 1 Does it depend upon 
the order in which the subversive forces creative of disease, are 
related to or super-imposed upon each other? Until questions 
like these shall have been solved, we shall bare to depend 
greatly upon experience and careful observation for the de- 
termination of the most adequate degree of potency, in which 
homoeopathic preparations should be exhibited in any given form 
of disease. 

And we shall have especially to depend upon the word of the 
master. 

The recklessness with which many homoeopathic practitioners 
use either low or high potencies, and administer large or small 
doses, one, two, or three drops, just as it comes, or twel 
teen, or twenty globules just as they happen to drop out of the 
vial, is altogether unpardonable, and a species of quackery sui 
generis. 

There are even homoeopathic physicians who practise upon 
the principle that, if they do not know what remedy is homoeo- 
pathic to a disease, they give the remedy which they suppose to 
be homoeopathic, in a quantity sufficient to make an impression 
upon the system. Such horrible delusions can never blind the 
minds of those who feel the homoeopathic doctrine in their souls. 

I intended to have here instituted a sort of inquiry into the 



TRANSLATOR'S PREFAC*. XX 

scientific character of Hahneman's theory of the chronic miasm 
The results of my inquiry I shall communicate on some other 
occasion. Such an inquiry is necessarily connected with an 
inquiry into the whole physiological and psychological nature of 
man, and this preface is already too long to admit of any more 
space being devoted to farther considerations. I therefore take 
leave of the reader, and trust, that this little volume may 
prove acceptable to the veneration which he doubtless feels for 
the great author of homoeopathy. 

Charles J, Hempel, M.D. 

New-Yobk, April, 1845. 



Mr. Radde takes this opportunity of informing the Profession, and those 
persons generally who are friendly to Homoeopathy, that the publication of 
the present volume will be immediately succeeded by that of the anti-psoric 
remedies, the first series of which, comprising u agaricus muscarius, am- 
monium carbonicum, ammonium muriaticum, anacardinm, baryta, Ixjrnx, 
calcarea carbonica," is now in the press, and will be for sale at Mr. Radde's 
book-store on the 15th of June next. 

The anti-psoric remedies acquire an additional interest from the fact that 
Hahnemann himself has pointed out the diseases in which every anti-psoric 
remedy has been found most eminently useful. 

On the first of August next will appear the first series of the remedies 
constituting Hahnemann's Materia Medica Pura. This series will comprise 
belladonna, Pulsatilla, and arnica. If it is at all probable that the expenses 
of the publication of this great work will he covered, no efforts will be 
spared to secure it as speedy a termination as is ronsistent with the great 
care which the translation of Hahnemann's writings de nands. Every ad- 
mirer of Homoeopathy should possess himself of Hahnemann's materia 
medica, as the greatest monument of his genius and perseverance. 

The translation of this work will be achieved by Dr. Hempel, who is in- 
timately acquainted with all the idioms and peculiarities of the German 
language, and will give a correct translation of every symptom contained in 
Hahnemann's Materia Medica. No one but a Germs scholar is competent 
to translate homoeopathic works from the German. 

All those who feel disposed to procure Hahnemann's great work, are re- 
spectfully requested to signify their intentions to Mr. Radde, so that he may 
be able to calculate the probable chances of his enterprise, and carry it out 
with proportionate energy. 

Every series, of about 200 pages each, will be paid for in proportion as it 
leaves the press. 



"W. Radde takes also this opportunity to inform the Physicians and the 
Friends of Hahnemann's System, that he is ihe sole Agent for the Central 
Homoeopathic Pharmacy at Leipzig in the United States, and that he has 
always on hand a good Assortment of 

HOMCEOPATHIC MEDICINES 
in their different preparations, as E*senees (Tinctures) Triturations and 
Dilutions, put up in cases containing 415 vials, w ith tinctures and tritura- 
tions ; ditto with 175; ditto cases containing 144 vmIs, with low Dilutions 
and medicated pellets. Cases containing from 27 to 400 vials, with pellets 
medicated with different (low and high) dilutions. Boxes with 60-80 vials 
containing medicated pellets. Double and single leather pocket-cases of 
Medicines for Physicians. Boxes for family use from three to six dollars. 
Also all Isopathic Remedies. Refined Sugar of Milk, pure globules, vials, 
corks, diet papers, labels, homoeopathic chocolate, &r., &c. 



DR. HERING'S PREFACE. 

{The following article has been kindly furnished by Dr. Herinc* 
of Philadelphia, in German. The Editor is responsible for the 
translation.) 



Hahnemann's work on chronic diseases may be considered a 
continuation of his organon ; the medicines which will follow 
the present volume may therefore be considered a continuation 
of his materia medica pura. As the principles and rules of 
general therapeutics have been developed in the organon, so does 
Hahnemann develop, in the present treatise, the principles and 
rules which ought to prevail in the treatment of chronic diseases, 
whose name is " legion." In the materia medica pura Hahne- 
mann describes to us the symptoms which the general remedies 
that he tried upon healthy persons, are capable of producing ; 
the present treatise, on the contrary, will be succeeded by an 
account of those remedies, which Hahnemann especially em- 
ployed in the treatment of chronic diseases, and which he therefore 
called " anti-psorics." In the organon Hahnemann tries to es- 
tablish the fact that the principle " similia similibus curantur" 
is the supreme rule in every true method of cure, and he shows 
how this rule is to be followed in the treatment of disease ; 
whereas in his treatise on the chronic diseases, which is based 
upon the organon and does not, in the least, modify or alter its 
teachings, Hahnemann shows that most chronic diseases, ori- 
ginating in a common source and being related amongst each 
other, a special class of remedies designated by Hahnemann U anti- 
psorics," should be used in the treatment of those diseases. 
This common source of most chronic diseases, according to 
Hahnemann, is Psora. 

The shallow opponents of Homoeopathy — and we never had 
any other! — pounced upon the theory of the psoric miasm with 
a view of attacking it with their hollow and unmeaning sarcasms. 
Making Psora to be identical with itch, they sneeringly pre- 
tended that according to Hahnemann's doctrine the itch was the 



3 DR. HERISG'S PREFACE. 

primitive evil, and that this doctrine was akin to the doctrine of 
the original sin recognised by the Christian Faith.* 

* Note of the Editor : I beg pardon of my distinguished and 
learned friend for annexing a few remarks to this passage. In doing 
so I merely anticipate what I intend to express more fully on this sub- 
ject some other occa 

As it would be absurd for a philosophical Christian to reject the 
doctrine of original sin, so it is absurd m who professes to 

have a clear perception of Homoeopathy, to reject the doctrine of an 
hereditary morbific miasm. Both I must stand and fall 

together; arid, il troth is our and indivisible, they both hold and illus- 
trate each other. 1 Bateau that every thing which 
leaves live hand of God, ho! J t thin the first created man 
must have been peri I have appeared in I 
and likeness oi I me absurd to suppose 
Something perfectly pur 

vclopm. nt, produce ihlAgl impure and evil. We d If how far 

God permitted an adept II to. 

gether with an adaptation to goodness. But this we certainly k 
that evil fruits must he the result of evil forces. In a C 
man, or God through m in, p «i ul in 

his nature ; and instant ously the forces of evil he thev 
cr-vil, or Otherwise, invaded man's natu; 

it, and have, up to this moment, perpetuated ti 

This is relatively sp fall, sJthoU D the 

first necessary phasisof human development, it may, in realty 
sidcred a progress. Alan's d< n reuniting him- 

with th^ Divine Life through th n of all the faculties 

of his soul and the realization of all the eclesli.il harmonics the gi 
of which God had deposited in his nature and towards the construction 
of which science and art will furnish him the means. The prim 
of division or dissolution which man had suffered to be introduced into 
his spiritual nature, must necessarily have embodied itself in a cor- 
responding principle in the material organism. It is this principle which 
Hahnemann calls Psora. In proportion as rain's spiritual nature be- 
comes developed and purified, this psoric mia^m will be diminished, and 
will finally be completely removed from the life of humanity. This 
complete physical regeneration of human nature will necessarily be 
attended with great changes in all the external relations of man, edu- 
cation, mode of labouring, living, etc.. etc. 
The principle of division or dissolution existing in the human organ. 



dr. hering's PREFACE. 3 

With the same impudence with which they had, on forme? 
occasions, asserted, that Hahnemann rejects all pathology in his 
organon, they now asserted that he himself advanced a patholo- 
gical hypothesis, and " that the true which it contained was not 
new, nor the new true." 

Equitable judges will not fail to recognise in this treatise on 
chronic diseases the same carefulness of study and observation 
which the great author of Homoeopathy has shown in all his 
other writings. Hahnemann had no other object in view except 
to cure. All the energies of his great soul were directed to this 
one end. His object was not to overthrow pathology, although 
the pathology of his time has been set aside as a heap of foolish 
speculations, and has been replaced by other systems, that may 
perhaps suffer the same fate in fifty years ; he merely contended 
against the foolish and presumptuous application of pathological 
hypotheses to the treatment of disease. He rejected and overthrew 
the foolish belief which had been driven like a rusty nail, into 
the minds of the Profession and, by their instrumentality, into 
the minds of the people, that the remedies should be given 
against a name, against an imaginary disease, and that the name 
of this imaginary disease indicated the remedy. Up to this day 
physicians have been engaged in accrediting that superstition. 
Whence should otherwise spring the desire which so many 
patients manifest, of inquiring into the name of the disease, as if 
a knowledge of that name were sufficient to discover the true 
remedy against the disease. Many patients are disconsolate 
when the doctor cannot tell them what is the matter with them. 
Do we gain anything by being able to say that the disease is 
rheumatism, dyspepsia, liver-complaint 1 Does it avail the 
patient any to be able to repeat his doctor's ipse dixit " that 



ism as an established and constituted fact, does not preclude the possi- 
bility of this organipm being invaded by acute miasms. The psoric 
principle marks the general adaptation to evil, recognised and inherently 
received by the human organism ; acute diseases are violent and sud- 
den invasions of the organism by the forces of evil — which I have 
named subversive forces in my preface. Those sudden invasions 
could never have taken place without man having first admitted the 
psorio principle to be constitutional in his organism; 



4 dr. hering'b preface. 

he is bilious, nervous, etc. ?*' Do these words mean any thing 
definite ? Are there yet physicians foolish enough to believe 
that their speculative explanations mean any thing 1 Does not 
every body acknowledge that they are mere ignes fatui flitting 
to and fro upon the quagmire of the old decayed systems of pa- 
thology 1 

Assuredly, a physician of modem date, who has not remained 
altogether ignorant, would be ashamed of assuring his patients 
with the air of a deep thinker, that one has a disease of the spine, 
another consumption, a third a uterine affection, etc. Every 
tyro in pathology knows that all this means nothing definite, 
and that it is only to very ignorant persons that such assertions 
can be given as science. Every tyro knows that the question is, 
to find out what are the symptoms and the nature of that disease 
of the spine or the uterus. It is moreover known that this more 
precise knowledge is necessary as respects prognosis, and for the 
purpose of regulating the mode of life of the patient ; but it is 
also settled that to know merely the variety, to which th< 
belongs, is not sufficient to cure it. All the successful and 
celebrated practitioners of the old school have been iOCh as 
have constantly modified and individualized the treatment of dis- 
ease. This is all that Hahnemann has tried to accomplish ; 
with this difference that he has individualized every case of 
disease with much more precision than any of the older phy- 
sicians had done. Hahnemann had courage enough, at om i 
face the contradictions which constantly existed b< tween | 
tice and theory ; he declared that the speculative knowledge of 
physicians was merely learned dust which they were in the 
habit of throwing into people's eyes for the purpose of blinding 
them and inducing them to consider the ignorance of the doe* 
and the insufficiency of their knowledge as something respectable. 
Hahnemann dared to lay down this maxim : that, in treating 
disease, he had nothing to do with its name. 

Hahnemann teaches that the remedies should be chosen ac- 
cording to the symptoms of the patient. The physician should 
be governed by what is certain and safe, not by that which is 
more or less uncertain and unsafe, and which is changed accord- 
ing to fashion. Both in the organon and in his treatise on the 
chronic diseases, Hahnemann insists upon the remedies being 
chosen in accordance with the symptoms. 



DR. HERING S PREFACE. 5 

It is not an easy matter to choose a remedy according to symp- 
toms. This may be inferred from the manner in which tyros 
in homoeopathy and physicians of the old school who come over 
to us, go to work. They constantly rely upon names, giving a 
certain remedy in scarlet fever, because some one else had found 
it useful ; or a certain remedy in pulmonary inflammation, be- 
cause it had been successfully exhibited upon a former occasion; 
whereas Hahnemann teaches that, because a remedy has helped 
before, this is no reason why it should help again in a similar 
disease. The symptoms and not the name are to point out the 
remedy. This is also the case in chronic diseases. In the treat- 
ment of chronic diseases Hahnemann has been taught by expe- 
rience to give preference to the anti-psoric remedies. This pre- 
ference is not theoretical, and is constantly subordinate to the 
general principle. 

Hahnemann has never said that the principal constituents of 
mountains, which are the most important materials in nature — . 
the metals, for instance — are the most important remedies for the 
cure of the most universal diseases. However, he has pointed out 
the oxydes or salts of ammonium, potassium, sodium, calcium, 
aluminium, magnesium, as the most important anti-psoric reme- 
dies. Hahnemann has said nowhere that the most important 
metalloids constitute the most important remedial agents, al- 
though he has introduced sulphur, phosphorus, silicea, chlorine, 
and iodine, in one form or another, as anti-psoric remedies. In 
selecting a remedy Hahnemann has never been guided by theo- 
ries, but always by experience. He chose his remedies agree- 
ably to the symptoms which they had produced upon healthy 
persons, looking at the same time to their remedial virtues hav- 
ing been tested by practice. This is the reason why the gene- 
ral views which have been expressed just now did not prevent 
him from admitting as chief anti-psorics borax and ammonium 
carbonicum* anacardium and clematis. 

Why, it may be asked, has a great number of homoeopathic 
physicians, neither recognised Hahnemann's theory of psora, 
nor the specific character of the anti-psoric remedies'? Why 
have some even gone so far as to set the theory sneeringly aside, 
and to decry the anti-psorics as less trustworthy than the other 
remedies 1 

For the same reason that the astronomical discoveries of our 



6 dr. hering's preface. 

Herschel are doubted by people who have no faith in the dis- 
coverer, and are not able to verify his discoveries. To do this, 
knowledge, instruments, talent, care, perseverance, opportuni- 
ties, and many other things are required. Not one of all these 
requisites can be found with those who are mere dabblers in 
practice, scribbling authors opposing their own opinions and 
imaginations to facts and observation. 

Or, for the same reason that E h re nb erg's discoveries cannot 
be appreciated by those who have either no microscope, or who 
have one which is not good, or who have a microscope without 
understanding the difficult art of using it; or else who know 
how to use it, but do not use it with the same I - and 

carefulness as Ehrenh m r< d in the chalk-dust of 

visiting cards the shell of animals, by simply 

making the cards transparent bj dm ana of the oil of turpen- 
tine. 

Or lastly, for the simple reason that pi find it more 

easy to write something f<>r print, than to observe nature; that 
it is more easy to impose upon people than to cure the sick, and 
because the greater number of pliv affected with the 

delusion that things which they do not sec, do not exist. 

If such physicians succeed in effecting a cure, they arc at once 
ready to boast of their exploits, whereas the cure was due to 
Hahnemann's doctrine, to the remedies which he has discovered, 
to the researches of other physicians, to their instructions or 
ample, or to so-called chance. But if they do not 
they impute their failure to anything but themselves : it \t 
mceopathy that is deficient ; this or that rule is not correct ; the 
materia medica is ai fault; or, if something in Hahnemann's 
system does not suit them, they are prone to say that they have 
never seen this or that, that they cannot agree with it. And in 
talking in this way, they really imagine to have said something 
against the matter itself 

Upon the same ground that Hahnemann carefully distinguished 
from the disease the symptoms which owed their existence to 
dietetic transgressions, or to medicinal aggravations ; upon the 
same grounds that he acknowledged as standing and indepen 
diseases the acute miasms, known as purpura, measles, scarlatina, 
small pox, hooping cough, etc., or that he distinguished the \ 
real miasm into syphilis and sycosis, we may afterwards, if ex- 



DR. HERING S PREFACE. 7 

perience should demand it, subdivide psora into several species 
and varieties. This is no objection to Hahnemann's theory. 
Hahnemann has taken the first great step without denying the 
faculty of progressive development inherent in his system. But 
let improvements be made in such a way as to become useful, 
not prejudicial, to the patients. We ought to raise our super- 
structure upon Hahnemann's own ground, in the direction which 
he has first imparted to his doctrine. 

Although it matters little what opinions the respective disci- 
ples of Hahnemann hold relatively to the theory of psora, I will 
nevertheless, communicate a short extract from my essay, 
44 Guide to the Progressive Development of Homoeopathy." 

M As acute diseases terminate in an eruption upon the skin, 
which divides, dries up, and then passes off, so it is with 
many chronic diseases. All diseases diminish in intensity, 
improve, and are cured by the internal organism freeing itself 
from them little by little; the internal disease approaches 
more and more to the external tissues, until it finally arrives at 
the skin. 

44 Every homoeopathic physician must have observed that the 
improvement in pain takes place from above downward ; and in 
diseases, from within outward. This is the reason why chronic 
diseases, if they are thoroughly cured, always terminate in some 
cutaneous eruption, which differs according to the different con- 
stitutions of the patients. This cutaneous eruption may be even 
perceived when a cure is impossible, and even when the reme- 
dies have been improperly chosen. The skin being the outer- 
most surface of the body, it receives upon itself the extreme ter- 
mination of the disease. This cutaneous eruption is not a mere 
morbid secretion having been chemically separated from the in- 
ternal organism in the form of a gas, a liquid, or a solid ; it is 
the whole of the morbid action which is pressed from within 
outward, and it is characteristic of a thorough and really curative 
treatment. The morbid action of the internal organism may con- 
tinue either entirely, or more or less in spite of this cutaneous 
eruption. Nevertheless, this eruption always is a favourable 
symptom ; it alleviates the sufferings of the patient, and gene- 
rally prevents a more dangerous affection. 

44 The thorough cure of a widely ramified chronic disease in 
the organism is indicated by the most important organs being 



8 dr. hering's preface. 

first relieved ; the affection passes off in the order in which the 
organs had been affected, the more important being relieved first, 
the less important next, and the skin last. 

11 Even the superficial observer will not fail in recognising 
this law of order. An improvement which takes place in a dif- 
ferent order can never be relied upon. A fit of hysteria may 
terminate in a flow of urine ; other fits may either terminate in 
the same way, or in hemorrhage ; the next succeeding fit shows 
how little the affection had been cured. The disease may take 
a different turn, it may change its form, and, in this new form, 
it may be less troublesome; but the general state of the organ- 
ism will suffer in consequence of this transformati 

" Hence it is that Hahnemann inculcates with so much care 
the important rule to attend to the moral symp1 to Judge 

of the degree of homoeopathic adaptatii n, existing between the 
remedy and the disease, by the Improvement which taket place 
in the moral condition, and the general well-being of the pa- 
tient. 

" The law of order which we have pointed out ab< ants 

for the numerous cutaneous eruptions tent upon hmnceo- 

pathic treatment, even where they never had been teen be! 
it accounts for the obstinacy with whifti many kinds < f h. 
and ulcers remain upon the skin, whereas others are disaip 
like snow. Those which remain, do remain because the internal 
disease is yet existing. This law of order also accoonts tor the 
insufficiency of violent sweats, when the internal d not 

yet disposed to leave its hiding-place. It lastly accounts 
one cutaneous affection being substituted for anoth 

" This transformation of the internal affection of such parts of 
the organism as are essential to important functions, to a cat 
ous affection — a transformation which is entirely different from 
the violent change effected by means of Autenrieth's ointaM 
ammonium, croton-oil, cantharides, mustard, etc. — is chiefly 
effected by the anti-psoric remedies. 

" Other remedies may sometimes effect that transformation, 
even the use of water, change of climate, of occupation, etc ; 
but it is more safely, more mildly and more thoroughly effected 
by the anti-psoric remedies." 

This latter is altogether an individual opinion ; others may 
have different opinions relative to the same subject ; this needs 



dr. hering's preface. 9 

not to prevent us from aiming- all of us at the same end, side by 
side, in perfect harmony. 

But alas ! the rules which the experienced founder of Ho- 
moeopathy lays down in the subsequent work with so much em- 
phasis, are not always practised, and therefore, cannot be ap« 
preciated. Many oppose them ; cures which otherwise might 
be speedy and certain, are delayed ; much injury is being done 
by the wiseacres who intrude themselves into our literature 
and mix with it as chaff with the wheat. On all this we may 
console ourselves with the" expectation that also in the his- 
tory of Science there will be those great days of harvest, 
when the tares shall be gathered in bundles and thrown into the 
fire. 

It is the duty of all of us to go farther in the theory and prac- 
tice of Homoeopathy than Hahnemann has done. We ought to 
seek the truth which is before us and forsake the errors of the 
past. But wo unto him who, on that account, should personally 
attack the author of our doctrine ; he would burthen himself 
with infamy. Hahnemann was a great savant, inquirer, and dis- 
coverer ; he was as true a man, without falsity, candid and open 
as a child, and inspired with pure benevolence and with a holy 
zeal for science. 

When at last the fatal hour had struck for the sublime old 
man who had preserved his vigour almost to his last moments, 
then it was that the heart of his consort who had made his last 
years the brightest of his life, was on the point of breaking. 
Many of us, seeing those who are dearest to us engaged in the 
death-struggle, would exclaim : why should'st thou suffer so 
much ! So too exclaimed Hahnemann's consort : " Why 
should'st thou who hast alleviated so much suffering, suffer in thy 
last hour T This is unjust. Providence should have allotted to 
thee a painless death." 

Then he raised his voice as he had often done when he ex- 
horted his disciples to hold fast to the great principles of Ho- 
maeopathy. " Why should I have been thus distinguished 1 
Each of us should here attend to the duties which God has im- 
posed upon him. Although men may distinguish a more or less, 
yet no one has any merit. God owes nothing to me, I to him 
all." 

With these words he took leave of the world, of his friends, 



10 DR. HERING'S TREFAC . 

and his foes. And here we take leave of you, reader, whether 
our friend or our opponent. 

To him who believes that there may yet he truths which he 
does not know and which he desires to know, will be pointed out 
such paths as will lead him to the light he needs. If he who 
has sincere benevolence and wishes to work for the benefit of 
all, be considered by Providence a fit instrument for the accom- 
plishment of the divine will, he will be called upon to fulfil 
his mission and will be led to truth evermore. 

It is the spirit of Truth that tries to unite us all ; but the 
father of Lies keeps us separate and divided. 

C Hg. 

Philadelphia, April 22, 1845. 



PREFACE 

TO THE FIRST EDITION, 1828, 



If I did not know, for what object I exist upon 
earth — " to make myself as good as possible, and to 
improve things and men around me to the best of my 
ability," — I should have to consider myself deficient in 
worldly wisdom for promulgating, before my death, 
an art whose sole possessor I was, and which, being 
kept secret, might have become a source of perma- 
nently increasing profit to me. 

In communicating these great discoveries to the pub- 
lic, I cannot help entertaining doubts as to the good 
will of my cotemporaries to appreciate the justness of 
my doctrines. Will they be practised with care, and 
yield to suffering humanity the benefit which must 
necessarily be derived from their conscientious applica- 
tion ; or will my cotemporaries, intimidated by the 
unheard-of newness of my discoveries, prefer leaving 
them unexamined, unimitated, and therefore suffer them 
to remain useless ? 

I have no reason to expect that these communica- 
tions will fare better than my previous publications on 
general Homoeopathy. The power of small and highly 
diluted doses was doubted ; their greater fitness for 
effecting a homoeopathic cure and the higher develop- 
ment of their dynamic action were overlooked ; and 
despite of the warning trials which enabled me to re- 
commend small doses as the most appropriate for the 



12 PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 

cure of disease, my faithful assurances and reasonings 
were disdained, and medical men continued for years 
to jeopardize the lives of their patients by large doses, 
and were therefore deprived of an opportunity of wit- 
nessing the happy results of the homoeopathic treat- 
ment, as was indeed my own case before I had adopted 
the rule of administering small doses. 

What would they have risked, if they had first fol- 
lowed my indications and had employed small doses ? 
The worst which could have befallen them, was, that 
these doses would be of no avail. It was impossible 
that they should do any harm. But instead of exhibit- 
ing small doses, they employed, from a want of sense, 
and of their own accord, large doses for homoeopathic 
use, thus exposing the lives of their patients and arriving 
at truth by that circuitous rout which I bad b 
upon before them with trembling hesitation, but the end 
of which I had just reached with success. the- 

less, after having done much mischief, and having squan- 
dered the best period of their lives, they were obliged, 
when they were really desirous of curing disease, to 
resort to the only true method which I had demonstra- 
ted to them a long while ago. 

Would that they acted more discreetly in regard to 
the discovery which I promulgate in this volume ! 

And suppose they do not act so, — in that case, a more 
conscientious and more intelligent posterity will have 
the advantage, by faithfully and correctly applying the 
principles developed in these pages, freeing humanity 
from the innumerable sufferinp-s which nameless chronic 
diseases have heaped upon the poor patients from time 
immemorial, and thus conferring upon them a blessing 
which the previously taught doctrines of homoeopathy 
had not been able to realize* 



OF THE NATURE OF CHRONIC DISEASES. 



The faithfully practised precepts of the homoeopathic 
method of cure, as it is taught in my own writings and 
those of my disciples, have hitherto manifested to all 
men, and in a very striking and decisive manner, their 
natural advantage over the alloeopathic method, both in 
regard to acute diseases as well as epidemics and spo- 
radic fevers. 

Venereal diseases have been likewise cured more 
safely, more conveniently, more thoroughly and without 
any secondary ailments, by the homoeopathic practice ; 
for it eradicates the internal disease and cures it from 
within, by the best specific remedy, without either dis- 
turbing or destroying the local affection. 

But there remained the chronic diseases which afflict 
humanity^ and the number of which continued to be im- 
mensely large. 

The manner in which those diseases had been treated 
by alloeopathic physicians, has only served to increase 
the sufferings of such patients. By employing a quantity 
of disgusting mixtures, compounded by the apothecary 
out of large doses of violent medicinal substances, whose 
separate effects were unknown, or by using all sorts 
of baths, violent diaphoretics or expectorants, pretended 
anodynes and sedatives, clysters, ointments, fomentations, 
fumigations, vesicatories, cauteries, fontanelles, and es- 
pecially those everlasting purgatives, leeches, bloodlet- 
tings, and methods of starvation, and the various other 
fashionable medicinal torments, the disease was either 
made worse, and the vital energies, despite of the inter- 
mediate use of pretended tonics, were more and more 
diminished ; or else, in case a striking change had been 
obtained, another nameless medicinal disease, being 

1 



14 

much worse and much more incurable than the original 
natural disease, was substituted in the place of the pre- 
vious disturbance ; whilst the physician consoled the 
patient by saying, that "the old disease had been hap- 
pily removed ; that unfortunately a new disease had in- 
deed made its appearance, but that he was confident he 
would conquer this new disease as successfully as the 
former." And in this way nothi - done except to 

modify the forms of the same disease, to increase it 
the additional sufferings consequent upon the use of im- 
proper and noxious medicines, until the complaints of 
the poor patient ceased with his last breath, and the re- 
latives were consoled by the delusive \ "that 
every known remedy had been employed in the case of 
the deceased." 

How different is G homoe* pathy ! Tn 

these cases of chronic i to which I i it al- 

luded, and provided the patients had no! 00 much 

ruined by the allceopathic pi nfortunat 

too often the case where some n 
out of the patient,) the homoeopath 
practising the precepts contained in the writings wl 
I had then published, and by f< B which 

I had given on former i 10th in I and 

conversations, did infinitely moi v their t. 

ment than all the previously ki 
of cure had been able to accomplish. 

By following the method which I had recommen 
and which is much more conformable to nature, the ho- 
moeopathic practitioners, baring in the first place in- 
quired into and noted down all the perceptible symp- 
toms of the disease, were able to remove it by m< 
of the smallest dose of a remedy which had been care- 
fully selected among the most appropriate homoeopathic 
drugs, whose genuine and true action had been ascer- 
tained up to that moment. The improvement which 
was obtained by the homoeopathic practitioner, exceeded 
all that allceopathic doctors had ever been able to ac- 
complish by some luckily successful inroad upon their 
medicine-chests ; for the cure was often accomplished 



15 

in a very short time, the patient never was deprived of 
his strength, as is always the case by the alloeopathic 
method of cure, and he was again enabled to enjoy his 
life. 

The disease yielded in a great measure to a very 
small dose of that remedy which had been found capa- 
ble of producing upon a healthy person the existing se- 
ries of morbid symptoms ; and if the disease was not 
too old, and had not been too extensively mismanaged 
by alloeopathic practice, the improvement often lasted 
for a good while ; so that mankind might already deem 
themselves fortunate on account of this aid, and very 
often did so. The patient who had been thus treated, 
might have considered himself almost cured, and very 
often did consider himself so, when he made just allow- 
ances for the difficulties of his condition previous to the 
homoeopathic treatment, and compared it with the im- 
proved state of health which he now enjoyed.* 

But, in case the apparently cured disease resulted 
from a more extensively developed psora, then a few 
excesses at table, a cold, the approach of unusually 
rough, damp or stormy weather, sometimes even the 
fall season, though mild, but especially winter and a 
winterly spring, a violent bodily or mental effort, a con- 
cussion of the system consequent upon great external 



* The cures here referred to concern diseases from an im- 
perfectly developed psora. In the treatment of those dis- 
eases my followers did not employ the remedies which were 
afterwards found to be the principal antipsorics — they were 

l not known then ; — the treatment was carried on by means of 

i those drugs the pathogenetic effects of which upon the healthy 
system corresponded most accurately to the existing symptoms, 
and had power to remove them for a time. By means of these 

,' remedies the outbreaking psora was reduced back again to its 
latent condition ; and, in this way, a sort of cure was effected, 
which gave often, for many years, great bodily comfort to young 
jrous persons, who must, on that account, have appeared 
really cured to a superficial observer. But the remedies which 
were known at that time, were then and are now insufficient for 
the complete cure of those chronic diseases where the psoric 

! poison has established its full action. 



16 

injuries, or some melancholy, heart-breaking event, fre- 
quent fright, deep sorrow and grief, or continual chagrin, 
were often sufficient in an enfeebled system, to cause 
one or more of the former ailments to reappear after 
they had been conquered for a time; and then they 
were often accompanied with a series of nptoms, 

which may not have denoted any more danger than the 
former symptoms did that had yielded to the homoeo- 
pathic treatment, but which were just as difficult to cure, 
and therefore so much more inveterate. Against t! 
new symptoms the homoeopathic physician emplo\ 
again, with tolerable success, the remedy which m 
most homoeopathically among the then known drugs, and 
the condition of the patient waa again improv. 
time. In case the primitive symptoms which had b 
cured once already h uhically, reappeared incon- 

sequence of one of the ab itionea the 

remedy which had been first employed, h( "iin, 

though less perfectly; and still I given a 

third time. Under these circumstances, the rem 
which had appeared most homoeopathic often produi 
new symptoms, and, despite of a correct mode of life 
the part of the patient, they yielded but scantily and im- 
perfectly to the best adapted remedies, and often ei 
remained when the cure was checked by the above men- 
tioned external inlluenccs. 

Sometimes the chronic malady was arrested in a re- 
markable manner, for a shorter or longer period, by the 
currence of agreeable circumstances, by some fortunate 
improvement in the affairs of the patient — a pleasant jour- 
ney, a favourable season, and dry uniform weather ; in 
this case the homoeopathic physician had a right to consi- 
der the patient almost cured, and the patient did consider 
himself so, provided he was willing to overlook moderate 
ailments. However, this favourable cessation of I 
disease never lasted long, and the return, especially the 
frequent return of the disease, which induced a repeated 
exhibition of the same remedial agents, weakened their 
power in a proportionate degree, notwithstandn 
had been selected with the greatest care according to 



17 

their homoeopathic nature, and exhibited in the smallest 
and most appropriate doses. They finally acted only as 
mere palliatives. Generally, however, after the phy- 
sician had repeatedly tried to conquer the disease, which 
reappeared again and again in a modified form, and in 
spite of a correct mode of life and perfect obedience on 
the part of the patient, there remained morbid symptoms 
which the then known numerous homoeopathic remedies 
were unable to extirpate, and often even to diminish. 
These symptoms increasing in intensity, and becoming 
more and more dangerous by their progressive develop- 
ment, the homoeopathic physician lost all power of 
checking the onward course of the disease. 

This result occurred in the treatment of all great, 
chronic, non-venereal maladies, even when it appeared to 
be conducted according to the precepts of homoeopathy, 
as far as it was then known- First, the treatment was 
satisfactory, then it became less favourable, and finally 
hopeless. 

Despite of these failures, the doctrine itself has then 
been, and will ever be founded upon the unshakeable pil- 
lars of truth. Facts have confirmed its excellence, yea, 
if this may be said of human things, its infallibility. 

The homoeopathic doctrine was the only and first doc- 
trine which made us acquainted with the proper treat- 
ment of the great, standing, idiopathic diseases, the old 
scarlatina of Sydenham, the modern purple-rash, hoop- 
ing-cough, croup, sycosis, dysentery ; even acute pleu- 
ritis and epidemic tvphus are promptly cured by a few 
small doses of carefully selected homoeopathic remedies. 

What then was the reason why the continued homoeo- 
pathic treatment of the non-venereal chronic diseases 
should have been so unsuccessful / Why should homoeo- 
pathy have failed in thousands of cases to cure such 
chronic ailments thoroughly and forever? 

These failures were perhaps owing to the small num- 
ber of the homoeopathic medicines whose pure action 
had been ascertained. 

The followers of homoeopathy were satisfied with 
this excuse. But the founder of homoeopathy rejected 



18 

it as a mere subterfuge. For, the yearly increase of 
powerful homoeopathic remedies left the treatment of 
chronic non-venereal diseases in the dark, whereat acute 
diseases, provided they were not fatal from their be_ 
ning, were not only considerably alleviated by correctly 
chosen homoeopathic remedies, but even promptly and 
thoroughly cured by means of the vis medicatnx of the 
organism. 

Why should this vis medicatrix of the < 
whose object is to restore the integrity ofth 
and to be indefatigably active in completing the recoi 
from virulent acute disi iicicnt to 

effect a durable cure of those chronic maladi< I 
when it was aided by those homoeopath: . the 

symptoms of whirl. sponded most accurate!} 

of the d 

In trying to answer this i led totli* 

covcrv of the nature of chronic diseases. 

Ever since the years 1816 and I8t7, I had been cm- 
ployed day and night, to d ion whv the 
homoeopathic remedies which were then known, did not 
effect a true cure of the above named chroi 
I tried to obtain a more correct, and, if possible, a com- 
pletely correct idea of the true nature of those thousands 
of chronic ailments which remained uncured in spite 
of the incontrovertible truth of the homoeopathic d 
trine ; when, behold ! the Giver of all good permitted 
me, about that time, to solve the sublime problem for 
the benefit of mankind, after unceasing meditation, in- 
defatigable research, careful observations and the most 
accurate experiments.* 



* I kept my {Treat efforts secret both from tho public, and 
from my disciples, not on sec the ingratitude which 

I have frequently experienced — fot 1 heed in itherthe ingratitude 

nor the persecutions that 1 meet upon my path, which. \\ • 

some as it is, is nevertheless not without pleasure on account of 

the great end to be attained. I never sp<>k< 

because it is improper, and even dangerous, I 

that are hut half accomplished. \<t till th< -J? did I 

communicate the most important part nt my di 



19 

I observed that the non-venereal chronic diseases, even 
after having been repeatedly and successfully removed 
by the then known homoeopathic remedies, continually 
reappeared in a more or less modified form, and with a 
yearly increase of disagreeable symptoms. This proved 
to me the fact that the phenomena which appeared to 
constitute the ostensible disease, ought not to be re- 
garded as the whole boundaries of the disease — othei^ 
wise the disease would have been completely and per- 
manently cured by homoeopathic drugs, which was not 
the case, — but that this ostensible disease was a mere 
fragment of a much more deep-seated, primitive evil, the 
great extent of which might be inferred from the new 
symptoms which continued to appear from time to time. 
This showed me that the homoeopathic practitioner ought 
not to treat diseases of this kind as separate and com- 
pletely developed maladies, nor that he ought to expect 
such a permanent cure of these diseases as would pre- 
vent them from appearing again in the system, either in 
their original or in a modified and often more disagree- 
able form. I became convinced that the first condition 
of finding out one or more homoeopathic medicines which 
should cover all the symptoms characterising the whole 
disturbance, was, to discover all the ailments and symp- 
toms inherent in the unknown primitive malady. The 
medicines being found out, the physician would then be 
able to conquer and completely to extinguish the whole 
disease, together with its successively appearing groups 
of symptoms. 

This primitive disease evidently owed its existence 
to some chronic miasm. For as soon as it had reached 
a certain height, it never yielded to the simple ac lion 
of a robust constitution, or to the best regulated die t or 



to the treatment of chronic diseases to two of my most deserving 
disciples, both for their own benefit and that of their patients. I 
did so in order to avoid the danger of seeing my discoveries lost 
for mankind. Having reached my 73rd year, it was not im- 
probable, that I should have been called into eternity before 
having completed my work. 



20 

mode of life ; on the contrary r it grew worse from year 
to year, to the end of life, gradually assuming different 
and more dangerous symptoms/ This is the case 
with every chronic,, miasmatic disease, — for instance, 
the venereal bubo, when it has become a syphilitic dis- 
ease on account of its not having been cured from within* 
by mercury r its specific. Syphilis never becomes extinct 
of itself; in spite of the best mode of life and the ro- 
bustest constitution, it increases from year to year, and 
assumes new and more dangerous symptoms to the end 
of life. 

I had reached this point, when my investigations and 
observations upon non-venereal chronic patients led me at 
once to perceive that a previously existing itch, which 
they often confessed to have had, was the cause why 
many diseases that appeared to be separate and coherent 
maladies, should not be cured by homoeopathic treat- 
ment. All the subsequent Bufferings were dated from 
the time when the psoric eruption had manifested itself. 
In many of these chronic patients, who were unwilling 
to confess having had the itch, or who had been too 
careless to heed it, or had no recollection of it, I often 
discovered, by careful inquiries, that vestiges of the itch 
had shown themselves upon their bodies from time to 
time, in the shape of small pustules or herpes, etc., as so 
many infallible symptoms of the chronic contagion. 

These circumstances, coupled with the fact, that 
psoric eruptions which had been removed by evil prac- 
tices or by some other cause r were evidently followed 
in otherwise healthy persons by chronic ailments having 
the like or similar symptoms — as had been observed 



* Phthisis often passed into frenzy, dryin ♦ rs into 

dropsy or apoplexy, intermittent fever into asthma, atfections of 
the abdomen into pains in the joints or paralysis, influenza into 
hemorrhage, etc. It was not difnVu! - lve that the new- 

symptoms were founded in the existing- primitive malady, a!ic! 
could only be parts of a much more extensive i 



21 

both by other physicians, 1 and myself, in an infinite num* 
ber of cases — left me no doubt about the internal ene- 
my which I had to combat in my medical treatment. 

This internal enemy I shall designate by the general 
term psora. It is an internal disease, — a sort of internal 
itch, — and may exist either with or without an eruption 
upon the skin. Little by little I discovered more ade- 
quate remedies against this internal disease, from which 
sprang so many sufferings. From the relief which I 
obtained by their employment in cases where the pa- 
tient had no recollection of the itch, I inferred that they 
resulted from a psora which had been communicated to 
the patient in the cradle, or in some other way, of which 
he had no recollection. By carefully inquiring of the 
parents or old relatives, I discovered that my suspicion 
was well founded. 

Investigating with the utmost care the curative power 
of the antipsoric remedies which had been discovered 
for the last eleven years, I became more and more con- 
vinced that the milder as well as the more extensive, 
and even the most inveterate chronic diseases, owe their 
existence to the psoric miasm. 

I found that thousands of tedious ailments, which we 
find enumerated in our pathological works under dis- 
tinct names, originate, with a few exceptions, in this 
widely ramified psora. Such diseases are most of those 
eruptions upon the skin which have been distinguished 
with so much care, and separately denominated by Wilr 
Jan ; almost all adventitious formations, from the com- 
mon even up to the largest sarcomatous tumours, from 
the deformities of the finger-nails up to ramollisse- 
ment of the bones and curvatures of the spine, and seve- 
ral other diseases of this kind, in early as well as a more 
advanced age ; frequent epistaxis, varices of the veins 
of the rectum and the anus, blind or flowing hemor- 
rhoids, hemoptysis, hemafemesis, hematuria, amenor- 



• More recently, especially, by van Autenrieth, (flee Tubin- 

ger Blatter fur Xaturwissenschaft and Arzncikundc, sec. vol., 
sec. part.) 

1* 



22 

rhoea, menorrhagiu ; night-sweats and diairhoea of seve- 
ral years standing ; parchment-like dryness of the skin, 
permanent constipation and difficult evacuation of the 
bowels ; long-continued local pains ; convulsions having 
occurred again and again for a number of years ; chronic 
ulcers and inflammations ; sarcomatous enlargement of 
the adipose tissue as well as emaciation ; sur-excitation as 
well as weakness of the different senses ; excessive as 
well as extinguished sexual desire ; diseases of both the 
mind and the soul from imbecility up to ecstasy, from 
melancholy up to frenzy ; swoons, vertigo, the so-called 
diseases of the heart, abdominal complaints, and the dif- 
ferent forms of hysteria and hypochondria. Careful 
observations, comparisons and experiments in latter 
years have revealed to me the fact, that the tedious ail- 
ments of both the body and the soul, (provided they do 
not belong to the class of syphilis or > which 

differ BO much from each other in their principal symp- 
toms, as well as in the different patients, are all of them 
nothing but partial manifestations of one primitive chro- 
nic psoric miasm, in which they all originate, and wi, 
innumerable symptoms form but one integral i 
and ought, therefore, to be regarded and treated M | 
of one and the same disturbance. Of tins nature arc 
the great epidemic typhus fevers, like that of 1813. 
One patient exhibits but a few symptoms of the epide- 
mic, a second patient a few others, a third and a fourth 
again other symptoms inherent in that disease, all of 
these different symptoms constituting the same pestilen- 
tial fever, and in their integrality, exhibiting tj ic ( 
plctc image of the disease. A few homoeopathic reme- 
dies* will cure such a typhus in every patient infe< 
with the disease, though ench patient may exhibit dif- 
ferent symptoms, and may seem to be afflicted with a 
different malady.t 

This is, upon a larger stxile, the case with psora, this 

* In the typhus fever of 1813, bryonia and rhus toxic 
dron were the specific remedies for all patient! 

f See Organon of the healing art, fifth . 1831, § 100, 

etc. 



23 

fountain-head of so many chronic ailments, each of which 
appears to be essentially different from the other. But 
this difference does not exist, as may be inferred from 
the fact, that the various successively appearing symp- 
toms constituting those ailments belong to many of them 
in common, and may be cured by the same remedies. 

I have already mentioned that all chronic diseases of 
mankind — even those which are left to themselves with- 
out having been made worse by wrong treatment — are 
so inveterate immediately after they have become devel- 
oped in the system, that, unless they are thoroughly cured 
by art, they continue to increase in intensity until the 
moment of death. They never disappear of themselves, 
nor can they be diminished, much less conquered or 
extinguished, by the most vigorous constitution, or the 
most regular mode of life and strictest diet. All chronic 
diseases, therefore, originate and are based upon fixed 
chronic miasms, which enable their parasitical ramifica- 
tions to spread through the human organism and to grow 
without end. 

In Europe, as well as in the other continents, we have 
been able to discover but three psoric miasms which 
cause diseases manifesting themselves by local symp- 
toms, and in which most chronic ailments originate. 
These miasms are syphilis, (which I have also termed 
the venereal chancre,) sycosis, and then psora, which 
forms the basis of the itch. The last being the most 
important, I shall speak of it first. 

Though this psora is the oldest, most universal and 
most pernicious chronic miasmatic disease, yet it has 
been misapprehended more than any other. For thou- 
sands of years it has disfigured and tortured mankind ; 
and, during the last centuries, it has become the cause of 
those thousands of incredibly different, acute as well as 
chronic, non-venereal diseases, with which the civilized 
portion of mankind becomes more and more infected 
upon the whole inhabited globe.* 

* Note ok the translator. — Tlii ent about the pro- 

se of disease is erroneous, though it do^s by no 
means invalidate the general truth of the principle. Professor 



24 

Psora i3 the oldest miasmatic chronic disease inown* 
The oldest history of the oldest nations does not reach 
its origin. 

Psora is just as tedious as syphilis and sycosis, and 
is, moreover, hydra-headed. Unless it is thoroughly 
cured, it lasts until the last breath of the longest life ; not 
even the robustest constitution, by its own unaided ef- 
forts, is able !o annihilate and to extinguish psor> 

In the many thousands of years since it has risked man- 
kind, the multitude of its morbid symptoms has increased 
to such an extent,* that its secondary symptoms have 
come innumerable. All natural chronic ailme: 
existing, which have not been produced by bad medical 
treatment, or by the fumes of quicksilver, lead, arsenic, 
etc., in the workshops, and which we find I in the 

usual treatises on pathology as distinctly bounded and 
separately named diseases, originate in pst : heir 

fountain-head. The diseases originating in syphilis, and 
those rare ones resu! rosis, do not come under 

this remark. 

Marx, of Gcettingcn, in his (real 

which has been translated rata English by Doctor ^N . U. W 

has conclusively shown, thai dia 

age to age, and that tin ss of ii new ;i 

was before. Hie reason why even such men at Hahnemann 

believe in a progressing i. 

this, that there is yet. an mil >le quantit 

ing around us, and that we im: inch 

disease impossible, unless it be t; 

ing accumulation. 

* Note of the -inn thin 

extension of the manif 

this miasm spreading through so many orj 
mann's statement may lead us to inter that 
has increased in intensity. This is not so. I 
through millions of organ i - 

divided, and its intensity is, there!. D implies 

diminution — increase in extent, but d< quality or degree. 

It is assuredly true that the psoric miasm must hai I all 

the progressive manifestations of man's inherent vital • 
and even of the soul's vitality, but making allowance for 
loss, there must yet be left a balance in favour of the opposing 
orces, otherwise life would gradually become 



25 

According to the most ancient historical writings which 
we possess, psora existed already almost fully developed 
in the earliest, ages of mankind. Several varieties of psora 
have already been delineated by Moses* 3400 years ago. 
At that time, however, and always afterwards, among the 
Israelites, psora appears to have especially infected the 
external parts of the body. This was also the case 
among the Greek barbarians, then among the Arabs, and 
finally in the uncivilized Europe of the middle ages. It 
is not my object to relate here the different names by 
which the various nations have designated the more or 
less malignant varieties of leprosy, (external symptoms 
of psora,) by which the external parts of the body become 
variously disfigured. Names are of no consequence 
here, since the essence of this miasmatic itch is every 
where the same. 

In the middle ages Europe was visited for several 
centuries by the frightful psora of the occidental coun- 
tries, in the shape of a malignant erysipelas, called St. 
hony's Fire. In the thirteenth century it assumed 
again the form of leprosy ; the crusaders brought this 
latter disease along with them. By this means leprosy 
spread in Europe more than it ever had done before, for 
in the year 1226 there were in France about 2000 
houses for the reception of leprous patients. Keverthe- 

* In the 13th chapter of the third book, and also in the 
21st chapter, 20th verse of the same book, where Moses speaks 
of the defects which priests destined to do the offering ought not 
to have, the malignant itch is designated by the term ET} ? 

T T 

the Alexandrian translators render this by 4*opa dypia, the A ul. 
gate by scabies jugis. The interpreter of the Talmud, Jona- 
than, defines it a dry itch spread over the body ; and, according 
to him, the expression used by Moses H r -> represents lichen^ 

herpes. (See Rosenmiiller ; scholia in Levit. P. II.. edit. sec. 
page 134.) The interpreters of the so-called English bible-work 
agree with this definition. Calmet says that " leprosy is like an 
•^rate itch, with vehement itching." 
The ancients also mention the voluptuous itching, which has 
constantly been peculiar to and characteristic of the eruption of 
the itch. The scratching is followed by the painful burning- 
Plato calls the itch yXvzvrttxpor. Cicero speaks of the dulcedo 
of scabies. 



26 

less, psora, spreading farther and farther in the form of 
a horrible eruption upon the skin, found at least some 
external alleviation in those means of- cleanliness which 
the crusaders had brought along with them from the 
East, such as (cotton? linen?) shirts which had been 
unknown in Europe heretofore, and the frequent use 
of warm baths. These means, together with an increas- 
ing refinement and more select nourishment, succeeded, 
in a couple of centuries, in diminishing the ting 

appearance of psora so as to reduce the disease, to- 
wards the end of the fifteenth century, to the ordinary 
eruption of the itch. But alas! about this time, in the 
year 1493, syphilis, the second miasmatic chronic dis- 
ease, began to raise its fearful head. 

The psoric eruption which appeared after infection had 
taken place, and which, in civilized countries, had b 
reduced to a simple manifestation of the common itch, 
w 7 as easily driven from the skin by all sorts of contrivan- 
ces. By means of baths, lotions, sulphur ointments, 
preparations of lead, copper, zinc, and mercury, of which 
the middle and higher classes availed themselves, the 
psoric eruption was i i ten, and is now so quickly sup- 
pressed, that it remained often unknown whether a child 
or a full-grown person, in those classes, had been in 1 
cd with the itch. 

But the cause of humanity was not improved by 
these proceedings; on the contrary, in man] 
grew worse. During the centuries when the psoric 
eruption was first known in the form of leprosy, the 
patients, though they suffered much in c< nee 

of lancinating pains in the tumours and scabs, and the 
vehement itching all around, enjoyed nevertheless a fair 
share of general health. For, the obstinately lasting erup- 
tion upon the skin served as a substitute for the internal 
psora; and, what is more, the horrible and disgusting 
appearance of leprous patients made such an impres- 
sion upon all healthy persons that they were frightened 
away already at a distance ; in this w r ay the lepr 
patients being kept apart from human society in sepa- 
rate houses, the contagion remained limited and w 
comparatively speaking, rare. 



27 

The milder forms of psora which appeared again, as 
has been mentioned before, during the 14th and 15th 
centuries, in the shape of the itch, infected a far greater 
number than the leprous patients were able to do, whose 
frightful appearance caused them to be carefully avoided 
by every body. The itch vesicles do scarcely appear, 
and may be easily kept concealed ; but being constant- 
ly scratched open in consequence of the intolerable itch- 
ing, and the fluid being spread over the skin and those 
things which had been touched by such patients, the 
infection, being concealed, takes place the more easily, 
and certainly, and affects a greater number. 

In this way psora has become the most contagious 
and the most universal of the chronic miasms. 

This miasm has generally already been communica- 
ted before the patient uses some external remedy (lead- 
water, mercurial ointment) against the eruption. Often 
he does not even admit having had the itch ; perhaps 
he did not know it; and it even happens that the physi- 
cian or the surgeon are ignorant of the nature of the 
eruption which is repelled by lead-water, &c. 

It may be easily conceived that, among persons of the 
inferior classes, who suffer the eruption to grow upon the 
skin until they become objects of horror to their fellow 
beings, the infection must have been widely spread by 
such patients before they do something towards remov- 
ing the eruption. 

The more concealed and proportionately easier and 
more frequent infection of the itch is not the only disad- 
vantage which has resulted for mankind from the psoric 
miasm having been reduced from leprosy to the com- 
mon itch. There is another disadvantage, which is 
this, that the essence of this reduced psora is unchang- 
ed, that it is equally formidable as before, and that, be- 
ing more easily repelled from the skin, it appears so 
much more imperceptibly upon the inner surfaces; the 
chief symptom, which is the external eruption, having 
been suppressed,* it produces an innumerable quantity 

* The itch may nol only be removed by the evil prac- 
tice of physicians and quacks ; it often leaves the skin of 



28 

of secondary chronic ailments. Physicians lose sight 
of the origin of that host of secondary morbid symp- 

itself, as may be seen below from the observation! of older p 
sicians, in Nos. 9, 17,26,36, 50, 58, 01, 64, 65. In toil 
syphilis and sycosis have an advantage over psora* In syphilis 
we have the chancre or bubo, and in 
crescence, which never h ai 

either been destroyed ' M hare I 

removed by a rational c thef with tin- whole of the inter- 

nal disease. Hence syphilis, and the secondary symptoms of 
sycosis, are impossible ;is long ai tin- chancre or the canlilh 
excrescence arc not violently removed from tl 
Both chancre and cauliflowe icternal, anchai 

able local substitutes fox the int. mal g it lafa i 

the end of life, and enabling tin mal 

um bj tin appropriate mten jhttobe 

continued until the focal substitutes have die I without 

any external appli snail hai 

place, both syphilis and 

In the last t . the p«Ori< m mani- 

feets itself in the sir pe of the common itch, hi 
benign character. The it<-li da b not remain upon tl. 

tly and invariably as either chancre or caulif 
Although the eruption i- often removed by the < vi\ p 
s!ci;ins and quacks, by desiccating washes, bj I 'sulphur, 

stic purgatives or cupping, yet it 

died, without any kn< wn cause. [1 often di 
in consequence of an untoward physical or moral im. 
violent fright, permanent chagrin, deep rrh, 

cold air, (as may be seen belo* . 

mint ral and river baths, a lever which m r --d from 

any cause, or some other ac 

continuous diarrhoea, or perhaps a peculiar want of action in 

skin ; in all these cast s the COD 

eruption had been removed by irrational medical treats 
The secondary symptoms of the internal psora, aw 

tie 1 innumerable chronic di 

this cause, break out sooner <»r later after the external eruption 

has disappeared by any of the afa 

Ncvert 1 aghl ii"t to be supposed thai 

as manifested by the milder erupt i 
from the ancient leprosy. Recent leprosy was, in old tin 

often removed from the skin by cold bathing, fri quent abluti 
in rivers, warm mineral baths, (sic No. ;:.">;) hut the old physi- 
cians heeded the evil consequences of such a treatment no more 
than the modern do the acute affections and the li: ala- 

dies which constantly appear vis results of t ; 
after the voluntary or violent removal of I uption. 



29 

toms ; they are unable to discover it, and the secondary 
disease is just as incurable as had been the original ma- 
lady with its eruption existing upon the skin. This 
had, in fact, never been thoroughly cured, as experience 
showed, but had constantly been made worse by a quan- 
tity of false remedies. 

At the time when the psoric poison was yet reduced 
to its formidable external substitute, leprosy, there were 
much less nervous affections, painful ailments, spasms, 
cancerous ulcers, adventitious formations, weaknesses, 
paralyses, consumptions, and degenerations of either 
body or soul, than there are now. These have especi- 
ally appeared in the last three centuries from the above 
named causes.* 

Psora became therefore the common mother of most 
chronic diseases. 

It may be said that at least seven eighths of the pre- 
sently existing chronic maladies originate in the reck- 
less suppression of the chief external symptom of 
psora, which acts as a substitute for the internal disease. 
The remaining eighth originates in syphilis or sycosis, 
or in a complication of both miasms, or, what is very 
rare, in all three combined. Syphilis may be easily 
cured by the smallest dose of the best mercurial prepa- 
ration, and sycosis by a few doses of thuya employed in 
alternation with nitric acid. The cure of these mias- 



* The increased irritability of the muscular fibre and the ner- 
vous excitability consequent upon the use of coffee and Chinese 
tea, which has become so universal for the last two hundred 
years, have given the past creneration an additional impulse to- 
wards a multitude of chronic sufferings, and have helped the 
psora to spread itself more and more. I, least of all, have a 
riorht to deny this, as I have shown, perhaps too strongly, in my 
little work on the effects of coffee, (Leipsie, 1803,) what a large 
share this beverage has in the bodily and spiritual ailments of 
mankind. At that time I had not yet discovered the principal 
source of most chronic diseases, which is psora. Coffee and 
tea are palliatives for several ; mptoms. Psora could 

not have produced such inveterate chronic ailments, if it had not 
been aided by the immoderate use of coffee and tea. 



30 

matic diseases is only then difficult and tedious when 
they are complicated with psora. Psora is most easily 
overlooked and misapprehended, and is, for this reason, 
treated in the worst and most pernicious manner. 

Modern physicians, even the most distinguished, with- 
out excepting almost any, either teacher or author, have 
established the rule, and have given it almost as an in- 
fallible proposition, " that every psoric eruption is a mere 
local affection of the skin, with which the organism has 
nothing to do ; that the eruption may be unhesitatingly 
removed by sulphur ointments, by the more active oint- 
ment of Jasser, by sulphur fumigations, by solutions of 
lead or zinc, but most speedily by mercurial prep,: 
tions ; that health is restored as soon as the external 
eruption has been removed ; that it is indeed true that, 
by neglecting the eruption and leaving it upon the skin, 
the morbid matter may be finally absorbed into the hu- 
mours ; that it may deteriorate the blood, and ruin the 
general health ; that these perverted humours may li 
ever be easily removed out of the system by purgatives 
and bloodlettings ; but that all these secondary diseases 
may be entirely avoided by speedily removing the erup- 
tion from the skin." There never was t,; loctrine 
which has been more fraught with evil consequences 
for mankind. 

Such horrible untruths were not only taught formerly, 
but they are taught and even practised in our days. In 
the most celebrated civil and military hospitals of the 
most enlightened countries and cities, and also among 
private patients of all classes, in prisons and orphan si 
lums, in short, all those who are affected with the itch, 
are ordered, by common as well as distinguished ph\ 
cians, to use external applications for the purpose of re- 
moving the eruption the sooner the better,* (as they 

* These gentlemen, agreeably to the fanciful notion which 
they have fashioned of the nature of this important dis. 
sert that, in this case, the psoric miasm has not had time to be 
absorbed into the humours and to deteriorate thorn. But sup- 
pose the first little itch vesicle, the voluptuous itching of which 
excites a continual desire for scratching, which is followed by 



31 

imagine;) they may use perhaps large quantities of 
flowers of sulphur internally, and some strong purga- 
tives, with a view, as they suppose, of cleansing the 
system. This being done, they impudently assert that 
the disease is cured, and the patients are dismissed * 
without the least regard for the secondary ailments 
which will certainly sooner or later manifest themselves 
as results of the psoric reaction, f 

The deceived and unfortunate patients sooner or 
later return to the hospital, affected with the unavoidable 
consequences of the former treatment, such as swellings, 
obstinate pain in various parts of the body, hypochon- 
dria, hysteria, gout, consumption, tubercular phthisis, 
spasmodic asthma, blindness, deafness, paralysis, car- 
cinoma of the bones, cancerous ulcers, spasms, hemor- 
rhage, diseases of the mind and the soul, etc. These are 



the burning pain, should prove, as we shall see below, that the 
psoric disease was already formed and completely developed in 
the inmost depths of the organism ] What is to be done, if 
every removal of the eruption by external applications, so far 
from diminishing the violence of the internal malady, forces it, 
as is shown by thousands of facts, to break forth either in a vast 
number of acute affections, or else gradually to ramify into a 
host of chronic ailments, that torture mankind and paralyse their 
strength ? Can these be cured by the ordinary methods ] Ex- 
perience shows that they cannot. 

* It sometimes happens that in vigorous patients affected 
with the itch, the eruption which had been removed by salves 
and purgatives, is brought out again by the vital power, (whose 
instinctive wisdom, being based upon a natural law, is superior 
to the understanding of its destroyers.) The patient then re- 
turns to the hospital, and the treatment by ointments and washes 
of zinc or lead in solution is renewed. To my knowledge, this 
pernicious removal of the eruption by external applications has 
been repeated three times in succession in military hospitals by 
senseless and homicidal quacks, their excuse being that the 
patient had caught the itch at three different periods, which is 
impossible. 

f I wrote this six years ago ; but even at this moment the 
same criminal doctrines are taught by physicians of the old 
school. In this most important of all medical interests, they 
have neither become wiser nor more charitable by one hair's 
breadth. 



32 

considered new diseases, and, without suspecting their 
origin, treated according to the usual routine of tin 
peutics. But the remedies are directed against phan- 
toms, imaginary causes, until, after ma f in- 
creasing suffering, death ensues, and frees the patients 
from the hands of the doctor.* 

In the treatment of psora the older physicians were 
much more conscientious than modern doci tnd 

they were much more enlightened obs Their 

practice was based upon experience, which showed them 
that the removal of the psoric eruption from the skin by 
external applications was followed by innumerable ail- 
ments, and the most L r n< I I 
they concluded that c\ se of itch or I in 
some internal du which they endeavoured to cure, 
as well as possible, by an innumerable quantity of their 
therapeutic agenU. 01 course, ti. ivours w 
fruitless, for they were ignorant of the only true method 
of curing psoric < ; which it \\ for 
homoeopathy to reveal to the world. N r< rihcless, 
their efforts being aimed al removing the internal dis- 
ease, which had lh\ into the eruption upim the 
skin, they deserve much l In this the 
older physicians (Idler from the modern, whose chief 
ject is to remove the itch from the skin as though it 
were a mere cutaneous . without < ; of 
the subsequent injuries which the older phya 
in a thousand instances, exhibited in their works as 
warning examples. 



* By a kind of accident the pati< 
to use sulphur baths. Hut this direction n without 

doctor knowing why he gave it; it was mere empiricism, tor 
he gave this direction because be bad < zhausted his wh 
of remedies, and did not know what ( ! 

baths the chronic disease often disappeared for a time, but af- 
terwards returned either with the same or anal ins ; 
in this case it to resort a^ain to the bath. 
the cure of psora which bas , in s | much 
more adequate treatment than the brutal use of sulphur baths 
can afford. 



33 

Bui the remarks of these honest practitioners are too 
striking to be left unnoticed, or to be treated with con- 
tempt. 

I shall subjoin here some of the innumerable cases 
of malpractice in the treatment of the itch, which the 
older physicians have left us, and which will be found 
sufficient, though I might double the number by quoting 
the cases which I have witnessed myself, to prove that 
the internal psora breaks forthwith a perfect rage when- 
ever it has been deprived of its external substitute, the 
cutaneous eruption. Would that the physician might 
learn from these cases that all his efforts should be di 
rected against the internal disease, and that an adequate 
cure of this disease will not only cause the cutaneous 
eruption completely to disappear, but will prevent, and, 
in case they should already exist, will cure all the se- 
condary chronic ailments consequent upon psoric reac- 
tion, and undermining the patient's life to his last mo- 
ment. 

These ailments, either acute or chronic, — the latter 
being the more important, — by which a suppression of 
the cutaneous eruption acting as a substitute for the in- 
ternal disease, is unavoidably followed — this mode of sup- 
pressing the eruption being falsely called, " repelling the 
itch into the system" — are as various as the peculiari- 
ties of the different constitutions, and the different modes 
in which they are affected by external influences. 

A short review of the evil consequences resulting 
from the suppression of the cutaneous eruption of the 
itch, may be found in a dissertation M De Damno ex 
Scabie Repulsa, Hal. 1750," p. 15 — 18, by the experi- 
enced and honest Lewis Christian Juncker. He ob- 
served that in young people of a sanguine temperament, 
this suppression was followed by tubercular phthisis ; 
and that generally, in persons of a sanguine tempera- 
ment, it was followed by hemorrhoids, colic, with bloody 
stools, and gravel ; in persons of a sanguine-choleric 
temperament, by swelling of the inguinal glands, stiffen- 
ing of the joints, and malignant ulcers, (called in German, 
Todtenbrueche ;) in fat persons, by a suffocating ca- 



34 

tarrh and tabes mucosa, inflammatory fever, acute pleu- 
risy and inflammation of the lungs. He says tint in 
opening the bodies of such patients, the lungs have 1 
found indurated and interspersed with sacculated cavi- 
ties full of pus ; that other indurations have likeu 
been discovered, together with swelling of the bones, 
and ulcers ; that in persons of a phlegmatic tempera- 
ment, this suppression of the cutaneous eruption pro- 
duced in most cases dropsy; that the in ore de- 
layed, and that they were changed to her - in 
case the eruption had 1)' i during tl 
flow; that persons of a n, v temperament be- 
came sometimes deranged, and that in pregnant women, 
having this temperament, the foetus was killed ; that the 
suppression of the eruption sometimes e; rility ; # 
that the secretion of milk in nun 
cd ; that the before women had 
attained the pro] j and that in older women the 
uterus became affected with carcii 
with deep-aeatedj burnin iera] emaciation* 
I lis experience has quently confirmed by the 
observations of others. t From this SU| I Of the 
cutaneous eruption of the itch have result 

* A pregnant Jew* bs had the itch upon her hi 
moved it. in the eighth month of her pre§ i ord< r m 

show it during the period of hei d< 

thn^ 1 days after the suppression of the erupt tii.il 

discharge was arrested, and shehad an ac now 

seven yean since she had been d afflicted with lew 

rhcea. Having become poor, ah 

tanoe barefooted ; this brought the itch out again; leucorrhcM 
and the hysteric affection disap] 
riant, and was delivered of a healthy child. — (Juncker, ibidem.) 

f In preparing' the first edition of my Chronic 
yet unacquainted with Autenrieth's I 
Medicine, based upon observations made in the clinical h 
of Tubingen, 1808. His remarks on the di 
upon the suppression of the itch by external applicati 
firm perfectly all that I had already found in hundred i 
thors. He too has observed that this suppression 
by ulcers on the feet, pulm nsumption, chlorof 

strual irregularities, white-swelling in the knee, dropsy of the 



35 

Asthma* — F. H. L. Muzell, Wahrnehmungen, se- 
cond collection, 8th case ;* J. Fr. Gmelin in Gessner r s 
Collection of Beobachtungen, v., p. 21 ; 2 Zieger, Diss, 
de Scabie Artificiali, Lips. 1758, p. 32 ; 3 Stanmen, 
Diss, de Causis Cur Imprimis Plebs Scabie Laboret. 
Helmst. 1792, p. 26 ; 4 Pelargus (Storch) Obs. Clin. 



joints, epilepsy, amaurosis with obscured cornea, glaucoma, 
(opacity of the crystaline lens,) with complete amaurosis, men- 
tal derangement, paralysis, apoplexy, torticollis, etc. He attri- 
butes all these diseases (though incorrectly) to the use of oint- 
ments. But the slow removal of the itch, which he proposes to 
effect with hepar sulphuris and salves, is not a whit better ; it 
is likewise a mere local suppression of the disease. He says 
that " it is ridiculous to undertake to cure the itch internally." 
This shows that he knows nothing about the proper treatment of 
the itch. It is indeed absurd to undertake to cure the internal 
psoric disease completely and thoroughly, by any other but in- 
ternal remedies. 

* Note of the translator. — Hahnemann quotes a vast 
number of authors who have furnished cases of the evil conse- 
quences of the suppression of itch. For the sake of brevity, I 
have omitted the names of these authors, together with the in- 
dication of their works and the cases quoted, leaving only those 
authors whose cases have been extracted by Hahnemann in full. 

(1) A man, 30 or 40 years old, had been affected with the 
itch a long time ago, which had been removed by ointments. 
Ever since then he became more and more asthmatic. Breath- 
ing became finally very short and painful, even when he was 
perfectly quiet. In breathing there was a sibilant sound, but lit- 
tle cough. He was directed to take an injection of squills, 16 
grains, and the same drug internally in the form of a powder, 3 
grains. But, by a mistake, he swallowed the 16 grains. He 
was in danger of losing his life. He had immense nausea and 
retching. But the itch coming out.again in abundance on his 
hands, feet, and on the whole body, the asthma disappeared at 
once. 

(2) The vehement asthma was combined with general swell- 
ing and fever.. 

(3) A man of 32 years had the itch removed by sulphur oint- 
ment, in consequence of which he suffered the most violent 
asthma for eleven months. The eruption was at last restored on 
the 23rd day. 

(4) A student caught the itch when he was about going to a 
dance. To be able to do this, he had the itch removed as soon 
as possible by a sulphur ointment. Soon after he was attacked 



36 

year 1722, page 435 to 438 ; 5 Breslauer Sammlungen, 
of the year 1727, p. 293 ; 6 Riedlin, father, Obs. Cent. 
II., bbs. 90. Augsburg, 1691. 7 

Catarrh with suffocation. — Ehrenf. Hagendorn, Hist. 
Med. Phys. Cent. I., Hist. 8, 9; 3 Pelargus, Al. Loc. 
Jahrgang, 1723, p. 15. 9 

with such a vehement asthma that it was impossible for him to 
take breath except with his head raised ; during the attack he 
was almost suffocating. After having thus wrestled with death 
for an hour, he threw up little pieces of a cartilaginous sub- 
stance ; this gave him some ease for a time. Having returned 
to Osterode, his home, he suffered for tw< 
The attack came on at least ten ti His physic 

Beireis, was not even able to give him the slightest reli 

(5) A boy of 13 years bad been affected with tenia ever since 
his childhood. His mother haying removed it by an ointm 
he had 8 or 10 days after* 

of acute pain in the limbs, hack and knee, which only die 
peared a month after, when the itch broke out all over hia b 

(C) Tenia capitis was Cored in a little girl by pnrgati 
other internal remedies. The child was then attacked with 
dyspnoea, cough and litade. The child ipeedilj 

covered his health as Boon as the remedies were discontin 
and the tenia disappeared. 

(7) A boy of five years had the itch. It was removed bj 
ointment, whereupon I. Lied with great melancholy and 
cough. 

(8) Tenia capitis having been removed by the application of 
almond oil, there came on great v .11 the limhs, fa 
ache on one side, want of appetite, asthma, waking on in the 
night from an attack of catarrhal suffocation, violent rnooehns 
and sibilus in the chest, convulsive torsions of the Limbs, 
though he were in articulo mortis, and hematuria. Upon the 
tenia reappearing, he recovered from all these ailments. 

A girl of three years old had been affected with the itch for 
some weeks, which was removed by an ointment. The next 
day the child was attacked with a suffocating catarrh, rhonchus, 
dumbness, coldness of the whole body ; she recovered as soon 
as the itch came out again. 

(9) A girl of 12 years old had her itch removed by an oint- 
ment, whereupon she was attacked with an acute fever, hoop in tr- 
cough, asthma and swelling, and afterwards pleurisy. Six < 
later she took some internal medicine containing sulphur. This 
brought the itch out again, and, with the exception of her swell- 
ing, all her ailments disappeared. However, after the lapse of 
24 days the itch dried up again, which was followed by inflam- 
mation of the chest, pleurisy and vomiting. 



37 

Asthmatic Suffocations- — Willi. Fabr. v. Hilden, 
Obs. Cent. III. obs. 39 ; 10 Ph. R. Vicat, Obs. pract. 
obs. 35. Vitoduri, 1780; 11 J. J. Waldschmid, Opera, 
244. 12 

Asthma, with swelling all over the body — Pelargus, 
Aliis Loc. Jahrgang, 1723, p. 504 ; 13 Riedlin, father, 
Aliis Loc. Obs. 9 1. 14 

Asthma, with dropsy of the chest. — Morgagni, de 
sed. et Caus. Morb. XVI. art. 34 ; 15 Hagendorn, Al. Loc. 
Cent. II. Hist. 15. 16 

Pleurisy and inflammation of the chest. — Pelargus, 
Al. Loc. p. 10 ; 17 the same, Jahrgang, 1721, p. 23 and 

(10) In a man of 20 years, dyspnoea came on after the removal 
of the itch ; it was so violent that it was impossible for him to 
breathe, in consequence of which he died of suffocation. 

(11) A young man of 19 years had a moist herpes on the left 
upper arm, which was removed by a great many external appli- 
cations. Soon after he was attacked with a periodically return- 
ing asthma, which became almost suffocating in consequence of 
a long journey in the heat of the summer; the face was tume- 
fied, blue-red, and the pulse feeble and unequal. 

(12) Immediately after the removal of the itch, the patient was 
attacked with dyspnoea, and died of suffocation. 

(13) A girl of 5 years had had, for some time, large itch vesi- 
cles on her hands, which had dried of themselves. Shortly after 
she was seized with short breathing, and became sleepy and ex- 
hausted ; on the following day the asthma continued and her 
abdomen became distended. 

(14) A countryman of 50 years had been affected with the 
itch for a long time. He had it removed by some external ap- 
plication, whereupon there was difficult breathing, want of appe- 
tite and swelling of the whole body. 

(15) A girl of Bologna, on removing the itch by an ointment, 
had a most violent attack of asthma without fever. After two 
bloodlettings she became so exhausted and the asthma increased 
to such an extent, that she died the day after. The whole chest, 
as well as the cavity of the pericardium, were full of bluish water. 

(16) A girl of 9 years, whose tenia had been removed, was at- 
tacked with a lingering fever, swelling all over the body and 
difficult breathing ; she recovered after the tenia had reappeared. 

(17) A man of 46 years removed his itch by sulphur ointment. 
Thereupon he was seized with inflammation of the chest, bloody 
expectoration and great anguish. The day after, heat and an- 
guish became almost intolerable; the pain in the chest increased 
on the third day. Then sweat broke out. After the lapse of a 

2 



38 

114, 18 and Jahrgang, 1723, p. 29,' 9 and Jahrgang, 1722, 
p. 459 ; 20 Jerzembsky, Diss. Scabies Salubris in H ydrope, 
Halae, 1777 ; 21 Karl Wenzel, die Nachkrankheiten von 
Zuruckgetretener Kratze, Bamb. 1826, p. 49 

Pleurisy and cough. — Pelargus, Jahrir. 17:22, p. 

Violent coi/glu — Hundertmark, p. 23 

Hemoptysis. 

Hemoptysis and consumption — Chn. Max. Spener, 
Diss, de ^Egro Febri Maligna, Phthisi Complic 
borante, Giess., 1699 ; 24 Sicelius, Pi <>rc. 

IK. cas. I. Francf. and 7 13 ; M \ \l. 

art. 32 ; 26 Unzers, Arzt, I 

fortnight the itch had broken oul vcd. He 

had a rel. itch <lri< d 

(18) A thin man died of inflammation 
ailments, 20 days after the itch I reL 

(li>) A from 

the skin, died. om- 

panied with asthma an 

(20) A young man who removed I ms of a lead- 
ointment, died in I 

(21) Anasarca was quickly relieved bj 
again. Beinf 

pleurisy came on and <!• 

(82) A country Lad w i d with ai 

dyspnoea, etc., in consequence of having I ssed 

by sulphur ointment 6 \ 

(23) A boy of L< .in whom the i;< 

cough and stitch hest. Th 

pearcd after the itch had CO! i in. 

(23 # ) A man i f 36 
ago by an oin 
fered of a con 

ag man i I i had the itch i ;.ick 

ooking wash. A Lth chills 

and heat, wearim 

cough, difficult breath l it blood in c< 

to talk delirious, hi doured ai 

the urine looked blood-red, with* cnt. 

(25) In a young man of 18 years, whose itch had been re- 
moved by a mercurial ointmi 

(26) The itch dj by a 
lingering fever and fatal expectoration of pus ; 

found full of pus. 

(27) A robust-looking candidate for the ministry, wishing to 



30 

Collection of pus in the chest. — F. A. Waiiz, Med. 
Chin Aufsatze, Th. I., p. 114, 115. 28 

Sacculated bags full of pus in the intestines. — Schu- 
bert, Diss, de Scab. Hum. Lips., 1779, p. 23.** 

Great degeneration of a large portion of the intes- 
tines. — J. H. Schulze, in Act. Nat. Cur., Tom. L, obs. 
23 1. 30 

Degeneration of the brain.— Bonet, Sepulchretum 
Anat., sect. IV., obs. I., § l, 31 and § 2. 33 

Hydrocephalus. 

Ulcers upon the stomach. — L. Chn. Juncker, Diss.de 
Scabie Repiilsa, Hal. 1750, p. 16. 33 

Sphacelus of the stomach and, duodenum. — Hundert- 
mark, p. 29. 34 

free himself from his old itch on account of being obliged to preach 
in a few days, covered himself with an itch-ointment in the morn- 
ing. In a few hours he, was attacked with anxiety, short breath- 
ing, and tenesmus, and died immediately after noon ; on open- 
ing the body the whole lungs were seen filled with liquid pus. 

(28) Empyema consequent upon repelled itch, which had 
come out a few years ago, especially in the months of March 
and April. 

(29) A young man, heedless of the warning of the excellent 
physician and professor, Krause, died of constipation in conse- 
quence of having used a sulphur ointment against the itch which 
had broke out again upon his skin. Collections of pus were 
found in his intestines. 

(30) The diaphragm and liver were also diseased. 

(31) A little prince of two years had tenia removed by oint- 
ments. After his death much bloody water was found under the 
skull. 

(32) In a woman who died on account of having used a wash 
for the removal of tenia, one half of the brain was found putre- 
fied and filled with yellow pus. 

(33) A rich man of a cholerico-sanguine temperament, had a 
gouty affection of the abdomen, and pain like that consequent 
upon stone. He removed the gout by all sorts of remedies. 
After this the itch broke out. The eruption having been remov- 
ed, an ulcer formed on the stomach, which caused his death, as 
was made evident by a post-mortem examination. 

(34) A boy of seven weeks, and a young man of 18 years, died 
all on a sudden in consequence of the itch having been removed 
by sulphur ointmpnt. In the body of the former the upper portion 
of the stomach immediately below the orifice, and in the latter 



40 

General dropsy.™ Dropsy of the chest. Swelling 
of the scrotum, (in boys.) Red swelling of the whole 
body. 

Jaundice. Sv)elling of the parotid glands. Swell i 
of the cervical glands. — Pelargus, Jahrg. 1723, p. 593 ;* 
Unzer, Arzt, Th. VI., St. 30 1. 37 

Obscuration of the eyes and presbyopia. — Fr. Hoff- 
nriiui. Con&ult. Med. L,cas. 6 



that portion of the duodenum into which the ductus choledoc 
communis and the pancreatic duct open, w< re found destn 
by sphacelus. A similarly fatal mortification of the stomach 
occurred in a journeyman. S kgni, I-\ .. art. 11. 

(35) Innumerable cases of such dropsy may be found in a ^ 
number of autfa >rs, among whom 1 to .1. D. 
Fick. KSxereit. lie :i-». II al. 1710, § 6. Hi 
mentions a case of itch that, ha\ suppressed by in. 
rial ointment, produced dropsy. This was only alleviated by 
reappearance of the dropsy. 

The author of Epidemiol which is attributed to Hippocra- 
has been the first to mention, In No. 4, of the fifth booJ^ 
result which bat been alluded to in tic .ra^raph. 

An Athenian was seized with a violently itchii n, which 

was not unlike the eruption of Lepra, and which i 
the whole body, and especially the genital organs. TTk erup- 
tion baying been •oppressed by warm baths upon the i 
Melon, the patient died of subsequent dropsy. 

(36) A boy of 8 01 9 d tenia, which was BUD 

by ointment. There was much B welling of t: 

which made the neck crooked and stiff. 

(37) A youth of 1 1 years had the itch in June, 1761. 

BUppreS8e4 by means of a 

this suppression, his parotid glands Bwelled considerably. 
swelling- of the left Disappeared of itself, but the tight 

enormously enlarged, and, toward- . painful. All 

cervical glands were swollen. je ones on the out 

felt hard and knotty ; hut on the inside tic pain, 

especially during night ; moreover, he suffered of difficult bn 
ing and swallowing. All attempts at causing the glands to sup- 
purate, remained fruitless ; they crew so large that the patient 
finally died of suffocation in the year 17' 

(38) A girl of 13 years was attacked with tl illy 
in the joints, upon the face and the pudenda. The itch ha 
been suppressed by means of zinc and sulphur ointments, the 
girl's sight became affected. She saw dark bodies floating before 
her face, which might also have been seen floatin. 



41 

Inflammation of the eyes. — Hallmann, in Konigl. Vet- 
enskaps Handl. f. A. X. S. 21 0. 39 

Lenticular cataract. — Chr. Gottlieb Ludwig, Advers. 
iVIed., Tom. II. S. 157. 40 

Complete amaurosis. — Northof, Diss, de Scabie, Got- 
ting. 1792, S. 10 ; 41 Chr. G. Ludwig; 43 Fabricius ab 
Hilden, Cent. II., obs. 39. 43 

Deafness. Inflammation of the bowels. Hemorrhoids. 
—Acta Helvet. V. S. 192 ; 44 Daniel, Syst. jEgrit. II. , S. 
245." 

Abdominal complaints. — Fr. Hoffmann, Med. Rat. 
Syst. III., S.177. 46 

Diabetes, (suppression of urine.) — Morgagni, XLL, 
art. 2. 47 

ous humour of the anterior chamber. She was unable to per- 
ceive little objects unless she used spectacles. The pupils were 
dilated. 

(39) A girl had a violent eruption of the itch on her legs, to- 
gether with large ulcers in the bent of the knee. Being attacked 
with the small-pox, the itch was suppressed. This suppression 
induced a moist inflammation of the white of the eye and the eye- 
lids, which lasted for two years, and was accompanied with itch- 
ing and suppuration of the lids, and a sensation of dark bodies 
floating before the eyes. After this she put on for three 
days woollen stockings having been worn by a child affected 
with the itch. On the third day a fever broke out, with dry 
cough, dyspnoea, and an inclination to vomit. Next day the 
fever and the symptoms in the chest abated. Sweat broke out, 
which increased until erysipelas appeared on both legs, which 
became true itch on the day following. The eyes improved. 

(40) A man of robust constitution, whose itch had been sup- 
pressed by ointment, was seized with cataract. 

(41) Suppression of the itch caused amaurosis, which disap- 
peared when the eruption broke out again. 

(42) A robust man, whose itch had been suppressed, was at- 
tacked with complete amaurosis and remained blind up to an ad- 
vanced age. 

(43) Complete amaurosis from a similar cause with terrible 
headache. 

(44) Hemorrhoids re-appeared every month. 

(45) Suppression of the itch was followed by a loss of blood 
of eight pounds within a few hours, colic, fever, etc. 

(46) Suppression of the itch was followed by the most vio- 
lent colic, pain in the left lumbar region, uneasiness, lingering 
fever, anxiety, and obstinate constipation. 

(47) In a young peasant, suppression of the itch was followed 



42 

Erysipelas^— Unzer, Arzt, Th. V. p. 301. * 
Discharges of acrid pus. Ulcers. — Unzer, Arzt, 

Th. V. p. 301 ; 49 Pelargus, Jahrg. 1723, p. 673 f 

Breslauer Samml. 1727, p. 107 ; 51 Muzell, Wahrnchm. 

II. cas. 6 f Riediin, son, Cent. obs. 3S. 63 

Cancer of the bones. Osteosarcoma of the knee. 

Pain in the bones. Rachitis 

Fever. — Ramazzini, Cong, lipid. Urbis, II. 

1691 ; 64 J. C Carl, in Act. Nat. Cur., VI. obs. 16. 66 

by suppression of the urine, vomiting, and B< in in 

the left loin. After* r ards there rine, 

but ill 8 small quantity and painful. The I 

They tried in vain to eracuate the bladder bi 

ter. At last his whole I difficult 

breathing I he dii d twenty- 

lion of the itch. The bladd I dark 

red urine ; and the abdominal cavity contained water which, v 
kept for some time over the fire, form* d a thick 
whit of 

(in) A man having suppressed his itch rialointm 

he had an erysipi latous inflammation on I 
his life in live weeks. 

(49) A woman haying u>vd mercuria] ointmenl 
itch, sin- had an eruption all over the body, which c 
pieces of flesh to nd ended her life in ad 
amidst violent pain. 

(50) A young man of 16 years having lost his Itch, which he 
had had for some time, ulcers broke oul on tl 

(51) A man of 50 years having suppressed his itch, he had 
tearing pains for five weeks in the left axilla, after whi 

ral ulcers were forming in the pit. 

(52) A quack gave a Student an ointment against the itch. 
It disappeared, but an ulcer formed in the mouth, which could 
not be cured. 

(5.3) A student who had bi with the itch, suppress- 

ed it by an ointment The suppression wai d by ul- 

cers on the arms and legs, with glandular Bwellings in the 
axilla. The ulcers having been cured by externa] 
was attacked with asthma, then with dropsy, and he finally < 

(54) Many observations may be made when th< -ion 
of the itch was followed by blackish urine, and when, 
after the reappearance of the itch, the fever disappeared and the 
urine resumed its healthy col 

(55) A man and a woman had the itch upon their hands for 
many years. Each suppression of the itch was followed by an 



Co 



43 

Fever. — -Reil. Memorab. Fasc, III. p. 169 j 66 Pelargus, 
Jahrg. 1721, p. 276, 57 and the same, Jahrg. 1723 J 58 

nller, Diss, de Scabie Humida. Erford, 1747, p. 
44 ;"* J. J. Fick, Exercitatio Med. de Scabie Retropulsa, 
Hal. 1710, § 2 j 50 Pelargus, Jahrg. 1722, p. 122 ; 61 also 
Jahrg. 1723 p. 14 ; 62 C G. Ludwig, Advers. Med., II., p, 
157 to lGO^Morgagni, X., art. 9* XII., art. 31/ 
XXXVIII. art. 22,* LV., art. 3. 67 



attack of fever, which ceased as soon as the itch reappeared. 
The itch was only found upon a small portion of their bodies, 
nor was it ever suppressed by external remedies. 

(56) Scabies a febre suborta supprimitur, remota febre redit. 

(57) A- boy of 9 years, whose tenia had been suppressed by 
ointments, had a violent attack of fever. 

(5S) A child of one year had for some time tenia and an 
eruption upon the face, which disappeared. A little while after, 
the child was seized with heat, cough and diarrhoea. Health 
was restored, when the tenia reappeared. 

(59) A woman of 43 years suppressed the dry itch, with 
which she had been afflicted for a long time, by an ointment of 
mercury and sulphur. The suppression was followed by pain 
below the ribs of the right side, weariness in all her limbs, heat 
and feverish irritation. After having used diaphoretics for six 
days, large itch vesicles broke out over her whole body. 

(60) Two young men, who were brothers, suppressed the itch 
by the same remedy. They lost all appetite, were attacked with 
dry cough, lingering fever, emaciation, and stupor, and would 
have died, if the eruption had not come out again. 

(61) A child of three years was afflicted with tenia, which 
disappeared of itself. This was followed by inflammation of 
the chest, cough, and weariness. When the eruption came out 
again, the child recovered. 

(6*2) A journeyman purser, who was told to make some kind 
of embroidery, freed himself from his itch by lead ointment. 
The itch had scarcely died away, when he was seized with 
chills, heat, asthma, and rattling cough, which caused his death 
by suffocating him on the fourth day. 

(63) A man of 30 years, of a healthy and robust constitution, 
was affected with the itch. He removed it, and was afterwards 
attacked with catarrhal fever and an immense sweat, from which 
he recovered very slowly. All on a sudden he was again at- 
tacked with another fever without any perceptible cause. The 
attacks began with anxiety and headache, and continued increas- 

(64) See page 44. (€6) See page 44. 

(65) Ibid (67) Ibid. 



44 

Fever. — Hochstetter, Obs. Med. Dec VITL. cas. 8 ;" 
Wchlc, Diss. Nullam Medicinam Interdum esse Op- 
timam, Witeinb. 1754 ; w Fick. § 1 ; 70 Amatus, Lusit. 



ing with heat, quick pulse and morning sweat. These symp- 
toms were combined with great sinking of strength, talking de- 
lirious, anxious tossing about and groaning, breathing with suf- 
focation. In spite of all medicines, the disease ended in death. 

(64) The spontaneous suppression of the itch in a hoy was 
succeeded by fever. The itch coming oi dis- 
appeared. But the child grew thin, and the Itch dried in ; 
cond time; diarrhoea, convulsions, and soon after, death, were 
the consequences of this sup; 

(65) The itch disappeared of itself; this was followed by a 
lingering fever, expectoration of pus, and at last death* The 
left lung was found full of p 

(66) A woman of 80 'uid for a long time pain in the 
joints and a considerable eruption of itch; she removed it bj 
ointment. This was followed by fi rer, with rich nt heat, thirst 
and violent h» with talking delirious, immense 
asthma, tumefaction of tin ion sf the ab- 
domen. Six days after the breaking ont of the fever she was 
dead. The abdomen contained onlj much air; the stomach, 
which, was replete with air, filled up half of the abdom* 

(67) A man whose tenia had been sap; Id, was 
seized with a malignant fever and vomiting, eight r the 
suppression; at last hiccup came on and the patient died on the 
ninth day. 

In the same article, Morgagni quotes th< a man atTect- 

ted with porrigo on the arms and other parts, which In 
by means of a shirt fumigated with sulphur. He was immedi- 
ately seized with drawing pains in the whole body. 10 
which prevented him from resting in the night, or from stirring 
from his place in day time. Tongue and fauces were also af- 
fected with the malady. "With much trouble the eruption was 
brought out again upon the skin, and he recovered. 

(68) Suppression of the itch was followed by a malignant 
fever and opisthotonos. 

(69) In a young merchant, the suppression of the itch was 
suddenly followed by such a ho that he was unable to 
utter a loud syllable; this was followed by dry asthma, loathing 
of food, violent cough, which tormented him, especially during 
the night, and robbed him of si eep ; excessive and badly smelling 
night sweats, and finally death, in spite of all medical treatment. 

(70) A mayor of sixty years had the itch, which caused him 
much suffering, especially in the night. He used many reme- 
dies against it in vain. A mendicant at last taught him a remedy 



45 

Cent, IL, Curat. 33 ; 71 Fr. Hoffmann, Med. Rat. System. 
T. III. p. 175." 

Tertian. — Pelargus, Jahrg., 1722, p. 103, compare 
with p. 79. 73 

Quartan. — Fr. Hoffmann, Med. Rat. Svat., III., p. 
175. 74 

Vertigo and total sinking of strength. Epileptic 
vertigo. — Fr. Hoffmann, Consult. Med. I., cas. 12. 7fl 

Epilepsy with vertigo. — Fr. Hoffmann, p. 30. 76 

said to be infallible, composed of the Olium lauro-cerasi, 
flowers of sulphur and lard. This caused the eruption to disap- 
pear ; but immediately after, he was seized with violent chills, 
then heat over the whole body, vehement thirst, panting- breath- 
ing - , sleeplessness, violent trembling in the whole body, and 
gTeat lassitude ; he expired on the fourth day. 

(71) Suppression produced frenzy, and a fever, resulting in 
death. 

(7*2) Suppression of the itch is generally followed by acute 
fevers and great sinking of strength. In a case of suppressed 
itch the fever had lasted seven days ; after this period the erup- 
tion came out again, and the fever disappeared. 

(73) A boy of fifteen years, who took a purge against tenia, 
was attacked with pain in the back, cutting pain during mictu- 
rition, and afterwards a tertian fever ; the disease was of long 
Btanding, and the purge administered by Pelargus. 

(74) " Old people are mostly affected with dry itch. The 
suppression of this kind of itch is generally followed by a quar- 
tan fever, which ceases the moment the itch comes out again." 

(75) A count of 57 years had been affected with dry itch for 
three years. The itch having been suppressed, he apparently 
enjoyed good health for two years, with the exception of attacks 
of vertigo, which increased to such an extent that on one occa- 
sion he would have fallen to the floor if he had not been caught. 

I This occurred after a meal. He was covered with a cold clam- 
my sweat, his limbs trembled, all the parts of the body had the 
appearance of being dead ; he frequently vomited sour substan- 
ces. The attack came on a second time six weeks after. It 
then came on every month for three months in succession. He 
retained his senses, but the attacks were followed by heaviness 
in the head and a sort of stupefaction such as is consequent 
upon intoxication. At last the attack came on every day, al- 
though the violence of the attacks had abated. He was not per- 
mitted to read, or to think ; to turn quickly, or to stoop ; he was 
also affected with sadness, sighing, and melancholy thoughts. 

1(76) A woman of 36 years had used mercurial ointment for 
2* 



46 

Convulsions. — Welle, Diss. Nullam Medicinam In- 
terdum esse Optimam, Viteb ., 1754, § 13, 14;" Si- 
celius, Decas Casuum L ca8. 5 ; 78 Pelargus, Jahrg. 
1723, p. 545. 79 



the suppression of the itch ; the consequence was that her men- 
ses became irregular, and were often interrupted for ten or fif- 
teen weeks; moreover she was constipated* Four years ago, 
feeing pregnant, she was seized with Vertigo ; while standing or 
walking she fell to the floor when an attack came on. In the 
sitting position she retained her senses daring n attack ; she 
was able to speak, to eat, and to drink. When the attack C 
on there was a sensation of crawling and formication il 
foot, which terminated in the fool being violently raised op 
down. The attacks gradually deprived her of b< . and 

on a journey, in a attacked with real i 

which returned three times daring the winter During I 
i unable I ; the thun 

but there was foam at the mouth. T .tion 

in the left Fool annoui i ; when I i had 

reached the pil of the stomach, the lit c n re- 

moved this epilepsy by humus of five powd< 
vertigo reappeared with much great! r fiolence thai 
too began with s sensation of crawling in the lefl foot, which 
rose to the pit of the stomach ; this sensation was combined 
with great anxiety and fear, as though she fell from I 
she then became Bpei c 
convulsively agitated i liven between th 
are extremely painful to the slightest touch, like boils. M 
over, she has a violent pain and neat in the head, and hi 
ory is gone. 

(7?) Suppression of the itch, in a girl, v 
swoon, horrible convulsions, and finally death. 

(78) A girl of i? years wi d with tenia, which 
peared of itself. After this j had heal in the Ku 
and attacks of headache. Som< tim< iddenly started up 
as if by frijjht, and while waking she had c 

of the arms and hands; opp in the pit 

consequent upon constriction of ' ; whininj 

on convulsions and Btartings of the lie 

(79) Tenia dried in a full-grown man who had b ted 
for some years with tremor of the hands. 'I 

lassitude ; red patches, without heat, broke out all over hi 
the tremor now passed into convulsive Bhakin I up 

bloody matter through d from the chest, 

and he died amidst convulsions on the twenty-third day. 



47 

Epileptic convulsions. Epilepsy. — J. C. Carl, in Act. 
Nat. Cur. VI. obs. 16 ; 80 E. Hagendorn, Hist. 9 ; 8i Fr. 
Hoffmann, Consult. Med. L cas.31 ; 82 Fabr. de Hilden, 
Cent. III. obs. 10 f Riedlin, Lin. Med. Ann. 1696, 
Maj. obs. 1 j 84 G. W. Wedel, Diss, de iEgro Epilepti- 
co. Jen. 1673 ; 85 Herrm. Grube, de Arcanis Medicor. 
non Arcanis, Hafn. 1673. p. 165 ; 86 Tulpius, Obs. lib. 
I. cap. 8 ; 87 Th. Thompson, Medic. Rathpflege, Leip- 
sic, 1779, p. 107, 108 ; 88 Hundertmark, p. 32 ; 89 Fr. 
Hoffmann, Consult. Med. L, cas. 28, p. 141. * 

(80) A man who had suppressed his frequently-returning itch 
by ointments, was attacked with epileptic fits, which disappeared 
on the reappearance of the eruption upon the skin. 

(81) A young man of 18 years suppressed his itch by means 
of a mercurial ointment. Two months after, he was seized all 
on a sudden with convulsions attacking all the limbs of his 
body ; they were accompanied with painful constriction of the 
chest and neck, coldness of the limbs and great weakness. On 
the fourth day epilepsy came on, with foam at the mouth and 
strange contortion of the limbs. The fits ceased the moment 
the itch broke out again. 

(82) In a boy whose tenia had been suppressed by almond oil. 

(83) In children, accompanied with suffocating catarrh. 

(84) Epilepsy came on in a servant girl after the itch had been 
suppressed twice. 

(85) A youth of 18 years had fits of epilepsy after having 
suppressed the itch by mercurial ointment a few weeks before. 
The fits returned in four weeks, about new moon. 

(86) A boy of 7 years was attacked with epilepsy. The pa- 
rents were unwilling to admit that it came from suppressed itch. 
The mother at last confessed to the carefully inquiring physi- 
cian that the boy had had a few itch vesicles on the soles of the 
feet, which had soon yielded to lead ointment ; but there had 
been no other eruption on any part of the body. The physician 
considered this, and correctly so, the cause of the fit. 

(87) Two children were freed from epilepsy by the eruption 
of moist tenia ; the fits however returned as soon as the tenia 
had been suppressed. 

(88) Itch which had lasted for five years, disappeared from 
the skin ; this disappearance caused epilepsy after a couple of 
years. 

(89) A young man of 20 years had his itch suppressed by 
means of a purge. In consequence of this suppression he suf- 
fered for two years the most violent convulsions, until the itch 
was brought out again by birch-juice. 

(90) A young man of seventeen years suppressed his itoh ; 



48 

Apoplexy. Paralysis. — Unzer, Arzt, VI. p. 301 ) yl 
Hundertmark, p. 33 ; lJ2 Schubert, Diss, de Scabie 
Human. Corp. Lips. 1779, p. 23. 90 

Melancholy — Reil, Memorab. Fasc. III. p. HI. 9 * 
Frenzy. — Brune, Diss. Casus Aliquot Mente Al 
torum, Hal. 1707, cas. I. p. 5 ;<* F. H. Waitz, 



he was of a robust constitution and had a sound understanding. 

After the suppression of the itch, three yean a_ it at- 

tacked with hemoptysis, then with epilepsy, which grew worse 

by medicine, so that he had two attacks in 19 hour. A 

procured him relief for four weeks, by bleeding andm< 

JBut soon after the tits returned dfuinj id two or 

three attacks every night, accompanied with an int. i and 

a suffocating catarrh, especially during the night; with all this 

he threw up a fetid Liquid* I •« n 

At last he had lei fits during the night and eight during 

the fits were caused h\ much medicine. Nev< 

the thumb d( Dched during an attack, not w 

any foam at the mouth. His mi 

fits came on a little before the time of tie t principally 

after the meals, [hiring the eighth 

deepest sleep without waking ftp. in the morning he f< i 

ed all over. The only indication of a coming lit is hie rubbing 

nose and drawing up the left foot, after which be suddenly i 

(91) A woman's leg heeanu-pa: ud rnnaii. ugh 

suppressed itch. 
(99) Hemiplegia ensued in a man of 53 res- 

sion of the itch by mercurial ointim nt. 

(93) A minister had for a long tin internal n 
against the itch ; of these remedies be got at last tired. !!• 
therefore employed ointments. Theoonsequei 

upper extremities became paralysed, and that a hard and thick 

skin formed in the palm of the bands, itching terribly and mark- 
ed with bloody, shrivelled patches. At the same place menl 

is made of a woman whose finger contracted in consequence of 
suppressed itch. The contraction! long. 

(94) Suppression of the itch was succeeded by melancholy 
and imbecility, which disappeared on the reappearance of the 
itch. 

(95) A student of 20 years caught the itch. His hands be- 
came covered with it to such an extent that he was unfit for his 
business. The itch was suppressed by means of an ointm< 
Shortly after he became deranged, sang or laughed where it i 
improper to do so, and ran until he fell down exhausted. His 
sickness increased from day to day, until finally hemiplegia 



49 

Medic. Chirurg. Aufsatze, Th. I. p. 130 5 s6 Gross- 
man, in Baldinger's Neuem Magazin. XL I. 97 

These few cases, drawn from the writings of the 
older physicians and from my own experience, * are 
sufficient to convince the intelligent observer that the 
itch, together with its varieties, tenia capitis, crusta 
lactea, herpes, etc, are the external vicarious symptoms 
of an internal disease affecting the whole organism, 
and that psora is the most pernicious of all chronic 
miasms. After reading the above cases no reasonable 
and inquiring physician will dare to assert that the itch, te- 
nia, herpes, etc., are mere cutaneous diseases, which may 
unhesitatingly be removed from the skin by external ap- 
plications, because the organism is not affected by them. 

This kind of treatment is the most pernicious, the most 
infamous and the most unpardonable malpractice of which 
allceopathic physicians have made themselves guilty. 

He who is blind against the wisdom which the above 
quoted examples teach, wilfully prepares the ruin of 
mankind. 

came on and he died. The intestines cohered like a firm mass. 
They were interspersed with little ulcers, with protuberances of 
the size of walnuts, which were filled with a viscid substance 
resembling plaster. 

(96) The same phenomena. 

(97) A man of 50 years was attacked with anasarca on ac- 
count of having suppressed his itch by ointments. The itch re- 
turned and the dropsical swelling disappeared. A second sup- 
pression was followed by frenzy, with head and neck swelled 
up to suffocation, lastly there supervened blindness and com- 
plete suppression of urine. Artificial stimulants applied to the 
skin, and strong emetics brought the itch out again. After it 
had spread over the whole body, all the former accidents dis- 
appeared. 

* An opponent from the old school has reproached me with 
not having shown, by examples from my own experience, that 
chronic ailments, which neither originated in syphilis nor 
in sycosis, are all of them derived from repelled psora. I 
should like to know whether examples, were they even drawn 
from my own experience, can be more strikingly convincing 
than those which I have quoted from both old and modern alloe- 
opathic works ] Have not our opponents from the old school 
often denied us belief, because our observations were not made 



50 

Are my opponents ignorant of the fact, that all 
miasmatic diseases, accompanied with cutaneous erup- 
tions, observe the same course from their very origin ? 
and that all miasms first attack the whole organism in- 
ternally, before the vicarious affection manifests itself 
upon the skin ? 

By examining that course a little more closely, we 
shall find that all miasmatic diseases which form local 
affections upon the skin, arc internal diseases, the last 
result of which is the local cutaneous affection. In 
acute diseases, the local symptoms, together with the 
disease, leave the system as soon as they have run 
through their regular course. In chronic di 
however, the local affection may < ither be 1 or 

disappear of itself, without the internal 
the organism either in part or entirely ; on the pontri 
the internal i may increase in the progress of til 

unless it is cored by art 

This circun to the course of chronic 

diseases, deserves so much more to he noti the 

common phj the modern, have, from 

sheer blindness, overlooked it, although it \\ ntly 

the course of all acute miasmatic diseases. Tl 
neither suspected nor noticed that the local affection \ 
a secondary vicarious symptom of an internal disease ; 
on the contrary, they often denied the < the 

internal disease, and by removing the bu 
excrescence and itch by external applications, they 
brought ineffable misery upon mankind. 

In considering the formation of these three chronic 
maladies, as well as that of the acute miasmatic dis- 
eases, three cardinal points ought to be noticed much 
more carefully than has been the case heretofore. These 
are, 1st, the period when the infection took place ; 2nd, the 

before their own eyes, and the names of the patients were only in- 
dicated by a letter, as if private patients Wing to ii 
their names presented in full 1 I did not wish to expose my- 
self to similar proceedings. Moreover, by quoting the cases of 
honest practitioners of the old school, I furnish the most indubi- 
table and impartial proofs for my doctrines. 



61 

period \vhen the whole organism began to be tainted 
with the miasmatic poison, until it had become a com- 
plete internal disease ; and, 3rd, the manifestation of the 
external symptoms, by means of which nature indicates 
the complete development of the miasmatic disease in 
the internal organism. 

My opinion is, that the miasmatic infection in acute as 
well as in chronic diseases, takes place in a moment, 
provided this moment is favourable to the contagious in- 
fluence. 

During the progress of inoculation or vaccination, the 
infection takes place at the time when the morbid mat- 
ter introduced under the bleeding skin, is brought in 
contact with the exposed nerve. The whole nervous 
system becomes infected in a moment. After the in- 
fection has taken place, ablutions, cauterization and 
burnings are unavailable to annihilate the disease, or 
even to arrest its progress in the internal organism. 
Even amputation of the part infected is of no avail. 
The human small-pox, the cow-pox, the measles, etc., 
will run through their course, and the fever which is 
peculiar to each of those different forms of infection, to- 
gether with the cutaneous eruption, will break out a 
few days after the internal disease shall have completed 
its development* 



* The question whether any miasmatic infection by the skin 
can exhibit external symptoms before the internal disease has 
become completely developed, ought to be answered in the nega- 
tive. 

Do not three, four or five days elapse after vaccination before 
inflammation sets in 1 Does not a sort of fever, which is the 
symptom of a disease pervading the whole organism, show it- 
self before the small-pox reaches its full development on the 7th 
or 8th day 1 

Do not tpn or twelve days elapse after infection by the small- 
pox has taken place, before the fever comes on, and the small- 
pox breaks out upon the skin? 

What has nature been doing, during that space of time, with 
the contagious miasm which was introduced from without 1 
Was it not necessary that the disease should be first communi- 
cated to the whole organism, before nature became capable of 



Ampng many other acute miasms, I may mention the 
infection of the human skin by the miasm of the epizoo- 
tic carbuncle. As soon as the infection has taken place> 
ablutions are of no avail ; the black blister, which is al- 
most always fatal, and which generally appears upon the 
spot where the infection has taken place, comes out in 
about four or five clays after this terrible disease has 
pervaded the whole organism* 

This same rule obtains relatively to the half-acute 
miasms without eruption*. Thanks to the kind Ruler of 
the world, only a few of those who arc bit by mad d< 
are infected — scarcely one in twelve ; ofl to my 

knowledge, one in thirty j the r r so 

much torn by a mad dog, generally recover with or 
without treatment.* Wherever the the in- 

fection takes place at the moment when the bite occurs, 

by affecting at once the whole Dei u In a 

lew days, and often a few weeks, during which the in! 
nal i men d< i . the fag< li out as 

an acute and quickl) fatal disease* We know from 
perience that) whenever the poison h t, the infec- 

tion takes place at the moment when the bite occurs; 
for neither instantaneous e.\seetion,t nor amputation of 

enkindling the fi v. r. and bringing the eruj n the 

skin] 
Themeasles also require b 

has taken place, before tin kin, 

and fever sets in. The infection by the \ earlatini 

erally requires seven day- before th 

What has nature been doing all this time with t 
What else except to communicate tl e or- 

ganism, which eoniinunieaticn must first tike place.- befoM the fe- 
ver and eruption can appear 1 

* These statements we ov -dly to the experience of 

English and American i Iston ; (in the 

London Med. Journ. Vol. V. ;) b m, Shadwell. Per- 

cival, whose observations may be found recorded in James 
Mease's treatise " On Hydrophobia,' 1 PhiladeL, IT 

j A girl of 8 years, in the city of Glasgow, was hit by a mad 
dog on the 21st of March, 1792. The wound was immediately 
exsected with great care, the suppuration was kept up, togethe 
with ptyalism, for two weeks. Nevertheless hydrophobia broke 



53 

the bitten part, are capable of preventing the develop- 
ment of the disease in the internal organism ; hydro- 
phobia will occur in spite of the many boasted external 
applications for the purification, cauterization and sup- 
puration of the wound. 

From the course which these miasmatic diseases pur- 
sue, we clearly see that, after infection, the internal dis- 
ease, whether measles, scarlatina, or small-pox, must 
first have become fully developed in the organism, be- 
fore those eruptions can come out upon the skin. 

Against all these acute miasmatic diseases, nature 
adopts a mode of cure which is inexplicable to us, 
They run through their course of about two or three 
weeks, when a crisis ensues, by means of which the fe- 
ver, together with the eruption, are annihilated in the 
system. After this period man either dies of those dis- 
eases, or else recovers.* 

The mode of contagion which nature follows in the 
chronic miasmatic diseases, and the formation of the 
internal disease previous to the external symptoms ap- 
pearing upon the skin and indicating the completion of 
the internal malady, is the same as in the acute forms of 
the disease ; but after the internal disease is completed, 

out on the 27th of April, and on the 29th the patient died. See 
Duncan's Med. Com. Dec. II. Vol. 8., Edinb. 1793, and the new 
London Med. Jour. II. 

* Have those acute, semivital miasms the peculiar nature of 
becoming extinct in the organism, after having affected the vital 
powers, at the moment of the infection, each in its peculiar 
manner, and having spread through the system like a parasitical 

1 growth, establishing each its peculiar fever, and leaving upon 
the skin an eruption which is, in its turn, capable of communi- 
cating the disease 1 

Are not the chronic miasms, on the contrary, continued by the 

I peculiar contagious eruption which they leave behind, itch ves- 
icle, chancre, cauliflower excrescence, whereas the acute miasms 
become extinct of themselves ? The chronic miasms are semi- 
vital morbid miasms of a parasitical nature, which can only be 
neutralized and annihilated by a more powerful remedy produ- 
cing analogous effects, (the antisporics ;) it is by means of theso 

i alone that the patient can be freed from the effects of those mi- 



54 

there is this remarkable difference between it and the 
acute diseases, that the chronic miasm continues in the 
organism, and even develops itself from year to year, 
unless it is extinguished and thoroughly cured by art. 

To show this more fully, I shall iiere only mention 
those two chronic miasms which are best known, the 
k re and the / 

The infection most probably takes place, durin_ 
act of coition, at those places which come in contact 
with the syphilitic virus and re into themselves 

by friction. 

If the poison has taken effect, the whole 
once tainted with it. Immediate lion has 

taken place, the formation of the interna] disease begins. 
genital organs, where the infection ' 
has taken place, exhibit nothing unnatural, nothing 
morbid, no traces cither of infl »n or corrosion ; 

all >nre 

to all appe i the 

parti the internal organism is 

roused by means of the i i, (which gen ikes 

place in a moment.) The internal 01 
voi; limilate lilitic mi id becomes 

thoroughly tainted with ihilitic disease. 

This complete adaptation of 1 > to the syphilitic 

virus is the first object of the human itter 

the infection has taken place. Not till the internal dis- 
ease is completely developed, does nature try to alle- 
viate and to hush her sufferings In* fori: the spot 
where the infection has torn 
as a substitute for the internal disease in tli of a 
little blister, which is transform-- tinful ulcer, call- 
ed bubo or chancre, about I en or fourteen d 
or sometimes even thrc ind five iftcr the 
infection has taken place. This vicarious chancre has 
the power of communicating to other persons the same 
miasm, which is the internal disease. 

If the internal disease is extinguished by means of 
the internal remedy, the chancre becomes also cured, and 
man recovers. 



55 

But if the chancre be removed by some local appli- 
cation,* as is done yet to this day by physicians of the 
old school, the miasmatic chronic venereal disease re- 
mains in the organism, and unless it be cured by inter- 
nal remedies, it gets worse to the end of life ; nor is the 
strongest constitution, by its own unaided efforts, capable 
of eradicating the virus. 

The chancre is most easily and thoroughly cured by 
curing the internal disease which pervades the whole 
system. I have taught and practised this for years. 
The best mode is to employ the internal remedy alone, 
without any external application. The merely local 
removal of the chancre, without any previous cure of the 
internal disease, is invariably followed by the breaking 
out of the syphilitic disease, with all its sufferings. 

Psora is, like syphilis, a miasmatic chronic disease, 
and resembles it in regard to the first development. 

Psora is the most, contagious of all chronic miasms, 
and much more so than syphilis or sycosis. The in- 
ifection bv the latter two miasms can only take place 
with readiness in wounds, and at those parts of the body 
which are covered with a very thin cuticle and provided 
with a delicate nervous tissue ; such parts are the geni- 
tal organs. Moreover a certain degree of friction is 
required to introduce the virus into the system. The 
psGric miasm, on the contrary, taints the system, espe- 
cially that of children, by simply touching the skin. 



* Syphilis does not only break out through the removal of the 
chancre by cauteries — which is called by quacks, repelling the 

j virus into the system, as though the system had been sound be- 

( fore the so-called repulsion had taken place; — even the sudden 
removal of the chancre without any stimulants, brings on syphi- 
lis, which may incidentally teach us that the syphilis must have 
existed in the system before the appearance of the chancre. 
44 Petit cut off a small portion of the labia minora which had 
been affected with chancre for some days ; the wound healed, 
but syphilis broke out nevertheless." See Fabre, Lettres, 

: Supplement a son traite des Maladies Vtntriennes. Paris, 
I T^G. — How could this be otherwise, since the syphilitic dis- 
ease pervaded the whole system even before the chancre had 

I made its appearance ! 



56 

Almost every body may, under any circumstances, be 
infected with the psoric miasm ; this is different with 
ihe other two miasms. 

As I said before, the infection by the psoric miasm 
is more common, more certain, more easy and more 
solute than that by any other. This miasm may be so 
easily communicated that the physician often gives it to 
hie patients in feeling their pulse.* Jt may be commu- 
nicated by linen which has been w her with 
the linen of persons afflicted with the iich ;t by gloves 
which such a person had tried on before ; by a bed or 
a towel which had been used by itch patients. Ol 
even it is given to the child by the mother during its 
passage through the maternal or by the n 
who just came from another parturient woman, or 
the nurse upon whose arms the child is earned about, 
and who was either unclean herself or suffered the child 
to be touched by unclean hands. ( ing the 
thousand different modes in which this miasm touches 
the various things w Inch are nec< man, and which 
he is far from suspecting and cannot help touching! we 
may say that those who remain free from the itch, con- 
stitute a lucky minority. Not only in hospitals, dun- 
geons, factories, or in orphan asylums and the huts of 
the poor, need 91 lion ; we find it 
just as well among the rich, or among those who liv 
society or in retirement. The hermit upon Monttemt 
escapes it just as liitle as the little prince wrapped up in 
his cambric swaddling-clothes. 

The moment the psoric miasm has touched the hand, 
and has taken effect, it spreads through the system. 
Henceforth all washing and cleansing of the spot 
is useless. The skin during the first days, remains 
unchanged and apparently sound. There is neither 
eruption nor itching to be perceived upon the body, not 
even at the spot where the infection has taken place. 



* Car. Musitani Opera, de Tumoribus, cap. 20. 
t Willis observed this. See Turner, des Malades de la Pean 
trad nit de 1' Anglais, a Paris, 1783. Tom. II. cap. 3, p. 



57 

The nerve in which the psoric miasm had first taken 
effect, had already communicated it to the remaining 
nerves by an invisible dynamic sympathy, and the living 
organism became so much disturbed by this specific in- 
fluence, that it was forced to adapt itself to the action of 
this psoric miasm, until, by virtue of this universal adap- 
tation, the internal disease had become completely and 
finally established. 

Not till the whole organism has been adapted to the 
nature of the chronic miasmatic disease, do the mor- 
bidly affected vital powers endeavour to alleviate and to 
calm the internal disease by a local symptom, (the itch 
vesicle, for instance.) As long as this eruption con- 
tinues upon the skin in its natural form, the interna^ 
psora, together with its secondary ailments, remain slum- 
bering, latent and restrained. 

The perfect adaptation of the whole organism to the 
nature of the psoric virus usually requires a period of 
six, seven, ten, sometimes even fourteen days. After 
this period, towards evening, the patient experiences a 
more or less considerable chill, and, during the sub- 
sequent night, heat all over the body, terminating in 
sweat. This heat is often supposed to be a little fever, 
which is believed to come. from a cold, and is not re- 
garded.* Then th* eruption makes its appearance, 
first near the spot which has been the original seat of 
the infection, in the shape of fine* vesicles, resembling 
rash, and increasing in size. Thev are distinguished 
by a voluptuously and almost intolerably delightful 
itching. This incessantly invites the patient to rub and 
to scratch the vesicles, and, if the itching is suffered to 
continue without scratching, there is a shuddering ex- 
perienced over the whole skin. Rubbing and scratching 
may ease the patient for a moment, but it is immediately 

* So far from being a separable local affection, the vesicles 
are on the contrary evident proofs of the psora having been com- 
pletely developed in the system ; the eruption is merely the ul- 
timate boundary of the psoric development. This eruption, 
together with the itching, are a part of the whole disease in its 
natural, least dangerous form. 



58 

succeeded by long burning at the spots where the 
scratching took place. This itching occurs most fre- 
quently and is most intolerable, late in the evening and 
before midnight. 

During the first hours of their existence, the vesicles 
contain a limpid lymph, which is quickly changed to 
pus, filling the tip of the vesicle. 

The itching is so terrible that the patient not only 
rubs the vesicles, but scratches them open. The liquid 
which oozes out from the vesicles, furnishes an abund- 
ance of contagious material for those who come n 
the patient, and have not yet been infected. The 
tremities, linen, cloths, utensils of every kind, which 
<havc been touched by this liquid, propagate the 

The cutaneous eruption, which is an indication of the 
psora havinc led the whole organism, (the Ger- | 

mane call it kratze, itch.) the ulcere c at upon 

this eruption, and accompanied with their peculiar itch- 
ing round the borders, and lastly, tenia and those forms 
of herpes which become moist on nibbing, and 
tinguished by a sort of psoric itching, are alone 
of transferring the disease to other p 
alone contain the miasm susceptibli imunicat 

On the contrary, the secondary symptoms of pj 
which appear both after the spontaneous and the artifi- 
cial suppression of the eruption, and which are tl 
mon results of psoric reaction, never transmit the itch to 
other persons, no more than the sccor, mptoms 

of syphilis transmit this disease to oth< 
first observed and taught by John Hunter.) 

When the eruption is just coming out, and is not 
spread over the skin, the health of the patient seems to 
be unimpaired ; there are as yet no traces of the internal 
psoric disease. The eruption acts as a sort of su! 
tute for the internal disease, which, together with 
secondary ailments, remains in a latent condition.* 

* In the same way the chancre acts as a substitute for the in- 
ternal syphilis ; which remains latent as long as the chancr* 
mains at its place. I saw a woman who had been affeotnl with 



59 

While the disease is in this condition, it is most easily 
cured by the specific remedies taken internally. 

If the disease is permitted to develop itself according 
to its nature, without using an internally curative remedy, 
or some external application against the eruption,* the 
internal disease increases rapidly. This increase of the 
internal disease inducing a corresponding increase of 
the external symptoms, the eruption will finally cover 
the whole surface of the body, in order to calm the in- 
ternal disease, and keep it in a latent condition. 

Even at this stage of the disease man apparently en- 
joys good health, except the eruption. The external 
symptom keeping pace with the internal disease, keeps 
this one at bay. But the itching over the whole body 
becomes so intolerable, that even the robustest man 
cannot bear it in the end. He washes to get rid of his 
torment at any price ; and, for w r ant of sound help, he 
contents himself w r ith being freed from the eruption, 
even though it cost him his life. Unfortunately the 



a chancre for two years. The chancre had constantly remained 
at the same place, and had now reached the size of an inch in 
diameter. Nothing had been done for it. There was no trace 
of secondary syphilis in this patient. The best preparation of 
mercury taken internally, cured both the internal disease and 
the chancre. 

* Note of the translator. — This is not to be understood 
as if Hahnemann approved of the application of external reme- 
dies. The idea which Hahnemann means to convey is this, 
that the internal disease may be apparently checked in its course 
by external applications ; in reality the internal disease is not 
checked ; it is surprised, or stunned, as it were, by the external 
application, but not cured, not even checked by it ; for, from the 
moment that its external symptom, in which the disease has em- 
bodied itself, is suppressed, the morbific virus concentrates itself, 
gathers its forces, and constructs its mines, by means of which 
it prepares the ultimate and unavoidable destruction of the organ- 
ism. This gathering of the morbific virus and instilling itself 
into the inmost recesses of the animal economy, is necessarily 
the work of time, and often takes place so slowly and gradually 
that the patient is induced to believe that the suppression of the 
external vicarious embodiment of the internal disease was tanta- 
mount to a radical cure. 



60 

means are at once furnished him either by ignorant lay- 
men or by alloeopathic physicians and surgeons. All 
he cares for is to get rid of the external pain, without 
chinking of the evil consequences that attend the sup- 
pression of the vicarious external disease. By resorting 
to this suppression, he fares like the poor man who 
means to get rid of his poverty by stealing a large sum 
of money, and, instead of obtaining wealth, goes to 
dungeon or the gallows. 

The longer the psoric disease has lasted, no matter 
whether the eruption has spread all over the skin, or 
whether it has been confined to a few vesicles, owing to 
a peculiar want of action in the skin,* in both these cases 
the suppression of even the smallest eruption is attend- 
ed with'the most pernicious consequences ; for the in- 
ternal psora which has been incr .11 the time, now 
breaks forth with its host of terrible sufferings. 

The badly informed layman in; rdoned for sup- 

pressing the troublesome itching and the eruption, by 
cold shower baths, rolling in the snow, cupping, or nib- 
bing the skin or onlv the joints with sulphur ointment ; 
he knows not what dangerous symptoms of the internal 
psora he calls up in his system. Bat who can pardon 
men whose duty it is to know, and by proper treatment^ 

* See above, the observation in ease 86. 

f For, even at this stage of tin . the eruption, together 

with the interna] psora, may yet be cored moi . and with 

more certainty, though than at the beginning of the 

ease, by the proper homoeopathic remedies, than is possible b 
the external suppression oi rtion; for this externa] 

pression is alwa\ <1 by a host of nan 

eases, into which the externa] pj f. Before the 

suppression, the psoric I unit, and may, tl 

lore, be met more easily, with infinitely more certainty and more 
thoroughly by the appropriate specific remedies, than after the sup- 
pression of the cutaneous symptoms. External remedies are no 
more required in this disease than in the venereal affect 
where one small dose of the best mercurial preparation is < 
sufficient to convert the chancre into a benign ulcer. The ulcer 
heals in a few days of itself, and no secondary symptoms of 
syphilis ever appear, because the internal disease has been cured, 
together with the local affection. This is a doctrine which I 



61 

to prevent the accidents which will arise from the psoric 
reaction consequent upon suppressed eruption, when you 
see them treat their patients in an improper manner, and 
suppress the eruption with an incredible levity, by means 
of powerful internal and external remedies, drastic pur- 
gatives, the ointment of Jasser, washes of the acetate 
of lead, mercurial preparations, sulphate of zinc, and es- 
pecially by an ointment composed of lard and flowers of 
sulphur or quicksilver, pretending all the while, " that it is 
simply an impurity in the skin, and that the skin being 
cleared, every thing is over, and man needs not to appre- 

have taught for years, and have constantly illustrated by my 
cures. 

Can it be excused, that after a lapse of three hundred years 
since the venereal disease has been known, the physicians should 
have been so ignorant of its nature as not to perceive that the 
chancre is something more than a mere local affection 1 Can 
the physicians be pardoned for having failed to perceive that the 
chancre being the external symptom of an internal syphilitic dis- 
ease, it ought not to be removed by external applications 1 
Ought not experience to have shown them that the removal of 

i the chancre by external applications deprives the internal dis- 
ease of its vicarious symptom, and, therefore, forces it to show 
itself in the formidable and much more inveterate character of 
syphilis 1 Can this want of judgment be excused 1 

Why did physicians never reflect upon the origin of cauli- 
flower excrescence 1 Why did they constantly overlook the in- 
ternal disease which gives origin to these excrescences 1 Why 
did they not cure the internal disease by homoeopathic remedies, 
which would have caused the excrescences to disappear without 
the use of an external agent ? 

But suppose we were willing to excuse this sad neglect and 

' ignorance on the ground that the physicians had only three cen- 

. tones and a quarter to obtain, a correct knowledge of syphilis, 
which they certainly would have obtained by practising a little 
longer, — though I had several times tried to convince them of 
their error — nevertheless they cannot be excused for their obsti- 
nate blindness relative to the true treatment of psoric diseases, 

■ and for the pride with which they overlooked all those facts 

I which had a tendency to show them that the itch originates in 
an internal psora ; no, they were determined to deceive the 
world by the lamentable delusion, " that the intolerably itching 

! vesicles were only an external cutaneous disease, and that their 
local suppression freed man from all disease and restored him to 

i health^ 

3 



62 

hend any further trouble." Who can pardon them for 
not profiting by the many thousand warning examples 
which they find recorded in the works of older, conscien- 
tious observers, or which the experience of modern ph\ 
cians reveals to them? Ought not they to know that, by 
suppressing the eruption, they bring upon the patient 
either certain death, or a lingering disease, which lasts to 
the end of his life ? Do they not let loose the psoric dis- 
ease upon the deluded patient by tearing down the < 
barriers which kept the thousand-headed monster in 
bounds ? 

It may easily be imagined, and experience teaches, 
that the internal psora will finally reach its greatest de- 
velopment, if the eruption is permitted to remain upon 
the skin. The intensity of the internal i becomes 

manifest by the evil consequences with which the sup- 
pression oi an old eruption is constantly attended. 

On the other hand, it is certain that the suppression 
of a few recently formed itch vesicles, when the in 
nal psora had not time to develop its intensity, is attended 
with less immediate danger ; and that there are no im- 
mediate evil consequent tiding such a suppi 
sion. Hence it often happens that the children of rich 
parents are freed, in a day or two, from a few recently 



Not only medical scrihblers. hut even the g ml most 

celebrated physicians of modern times, have made th< 
guilty of this gross error, (or shall 1 Bay, wilful crim< 
von Helmont down to the latest advocates of the allceopaihic 
practice. 

The above quoted remedies were b fficient to remove 

both the eruption and tin* itching. In their delusion the physi- 
cians supposed to have destroyed the i ind dismh 
their patients with tin* i thai they had entirety n 

The ailments which Bueoeeded the suppression of the eruption, 
they explained as new maladies. They were heedless of I 
innumerable, striking testimonies of older and honest ohser 
which show that the consequences often follow the supj 
so rapidly that every body in his senses must acknowledge them 
as results of an internal psora, which, being deprived or its pri- 
mary cutaneous symptoms, was forced to embody itself in a host 
of secondary diseases. 



63 

formed vesicles by means of lead ointment or lead 
washes, without any one suspecting them of having been 
infected with the itch. 

But, however trifling the ailments may be with which 
the suppression of a few recently formed vesicles is 
attended, and which the ignorant family physician at- 
tributes to other slight causes, nevertheless, the inter- 
nal psora, be it ever so little developed, affects the 
whole organism ; the robustest constitution is incapa- 
ble of annihilating it by its own unaided efforts, and 
unless it be extinguished by the aid of art, it ivill last 
to the end of life. It is indeed true that the first de- 
velopment of this internal disease is slower, when the 
eruption upon the skin is removed as speedily as it 
shows itself, than in cases where the eruption has been 
upon the skin for a long time, and the internal psora 
has been permitted to increase in intensity in a corres- 
ponding degree. Nevertheless, even in the most favour- 
able cases, the development of the internal psora goes 
on for years, often so slowly and imperceptibly that per- 
sons who are not perfectly acquainted with the symp- 
toms, by which the existence of this slumbering enemy 
shows itself, would suppose the patient to be perfectly 
healthy. 

Numerous observations* have, by degrees, made me 
acquainted with the symptoms by which the internal 
disease manifests itself, even in its incipient state of 
slumber.f By means of this knowledge I am able to 



* Up to this moment, at the age of 79 years, 1 have never 
been infected with the itch, although I am extremely susceptible 
of being attacked by acute or epidemic diseases, and have under- 
gone excessive mental exertions and moral sufferings. This 
may have been the reason why I should have had a better chance 
than hundreds of others to discover and to appreciate the symp- 
toms of psora, whether in the latent condition, or existing in 
the form of great chronic ailments. I had the means and was 
in the habit of comparing those symptoms with the state of 
health that I have constantly enjoyed. 

JThe allceopathic physicians have likewise supposed latent forms 
disease, in order to have a pretence for the inroads which they 



64 

apply proper and successful remedies before the in; 
rial psora has become a manifest second ise, and 

has reached that fearful height where its eradication is 
either very difficult or altogether impossible. 

There are many symptoms that reveal the existence 
of psora, slumbering in the depths of the or be- 

fore a complete outbreak of the disease has taken place ; 
but they cannot all be found upon one person. One has 
more, the other less ; in one they come out prog: 
sively, in another they remain suppressed ; this de- 
pends in a great measure upon the constitution and the 
external circumstances of the patient 

Symptoms of latent Psora. 

Frequent passing of ascarides, lumbricoides and 
micularefl — ibey cause in intolerable itching in the rec- 
tum, (especially in chilelr. 

Frequent distention of the abdomen. 

Insatiable hunger and want of appetite following 

each other in alternation- 

Paleness of the countenance and deficient tome/ 

the muscles. 

Frequent inflammation of the ev 

Swelling of the cervical glands, (scrofula.) 

Sweat upon the head, in the evening after baring 

fallen asleep. 

Epistaxis in girls and young men, often very violent, 

(it is less frequent in older persons.) 

make upon the system by their violent m< bloodletti 

anodynes, etc. These "qualitates occulta Fernelii " are alto- 
gether chimerical, since, by the adroisc 
themselYes, there are do symptoms by which they i 
aised. Things which do n<>t manifest theme phenom- 

ena, have no existence lor man, who can only become aware of 
their existence by observation ; they are mere en the 

fancy. It is different with the slumbering or Latent p 
nature; in spite of their Latent existence they reveal th- 
under appropriatecircumstanc.es ; — for example, the Latent caloric 
in rubbing cold metals; the latent psora l>y drawing pain in the 
sheaths of the muscles, which comes on whenever the psbric 
patient exposes himself to a draught of air. 



65 

The hands are generally cold, and the palm of the 
hand is sweaty, (burning in the palm of the hand.) 

The feet are cold and dry, or sweaty and badly smell- 
ing. (Burning upon the soles of the feet.) 

The arms or hands, legs or feet become benumbed 
by a slight cause. 

Frequent cramps in the muscles of the arms and 
hands. 

Painless subsultus of parts of muscles, here and there. 

Frequent or tedious coryza, or dry cold in the head,* 
or impossibility of catching cold, even though the per- 
son is much exposed to the causes of cold, and has been 
constantly affected with it formerly. 

Tedious obstruction of the nares, one or both. 

Ulcers in the nares, (sore nose.) 

Disagreeable sensation of dryness in the nose. 

Frequent inflammation of the throat, frequent hoarse- 
ness. 

. Short and light coughing, early in the morning, in 
quick repetition. 

Frequent attacks of the asthma. 

Either the whole body or only the head, neck, breast, 
abdomen, feet, easily catch cold, especially in a draught 
of air ;t these parts are then generally covered with 
sweat; the cold is attended with various symptoms, 
which often last a good while. 

Straining, which often occurs from the slightest cause, 
from carrying or lifting a light weight, from elevating 
and stretching the arms after high objects ; this moder- 
ate stretching of the muscles is often succeeded by all 
sorts of ailments, headache, nausea, sinking of strength, 
painful tension in the muscles of the back of the neck, 
or the back, etc. 

Frequent pain on one side of the head, or toothache, 
from even moderate mental emotions. 

* The catarrhal fevers, (for example, influenza,) which affect 
even the soundest constitution, do not come under this remark. 

f Persons whose organisms are not tainted with the psoric 
virus, do not catch cold from being exposed to a draught, or 
damp and cold air, though they may find it disagreeable. 



66 

Frequent flushes of heat and redness in the face, 
sometimes combined with a sort of anxiety. 

Frequent falling of the hair, dryness of the hair, scales 
upon the scalp. 

Inclination to erysipelas, on different parts of the body. 

Interruption of the menstrual functions; irregularities 
occurring in those functions ; the menses either flow 
too abundantly or too little ; they appear either too 
soon or too late, last too long, are watery, and are com- 
bined with many bodily ailments. 

Twitches of the limbs on falling asleep. 

Weariness on waking up in the morning; unrefrcsh- 
ing sleep. 

Sweat, early, in the bed. 

Too easy sweating during the da\ with little mo- 

tion ; also, absence of sweat which nothing can bring out. 

The tongue is white, pale, — often parched. 

Much phlegm in the fauces. 

Bad smell from the mouth ; this is either constant, 
or occurs only frequent] \ tally during the mens 

the taste in the mouth a 'id, or sourish, or as 

coining from a spoiled stomach ; also musty and putrid. 

Sourish taste in the mouth. 

Nausea early in the mornr 

Sensation of emptiness in the stomach. 

Repugnance to boiled warm food, especially meat. 

Repugnance (in children) to milk. 

Dryness in the mouth, in the night and early in the 
morning. 

Cutting pain in the bowels, frequently ; often every 
day, especially early in the morning, (in children.) 

Hard knotty stools, often delaying a whole day, and 
covered with mucus ; or also, constantly soft, liquid, acrid 
stools. 

Varices of the rectum ; blood passes off with the 
stools. 

Passing of mucus by the anus, with or without fasces. 

Itching at the anus. 

Dark urine. 

Distended veins of the legs, (varices.) 



67 

Chilblains ; they are painful even in the summer season. 

The corns pain, even when the shoes do not pinch. 

This or that joint is easily strained, in stepping or 
seizing. 

One or more joints crack during motion. 

Drawing, straining pains in the back of the neck, in the 
back, the limbs, especially the teeth, (in damp, stormy 
weather, when the wind is from the north-west or north- 
east,* after a cold, a strain consequent on lifting, or after 
disagreeable emotions, etc. 

The pains manifest themselves again during rest, 
they disappear during motion. 

The pains generally come on during night ; they 
appear again and increase, when the barometer has fallen, 
when the wind is from the north or north-east, in the 
winter season and towards spring. 

Uneasy, frightful, or too vivid dreams. 

Unhealthy skin ; every little wound ulcerates ; the skin 
of the hancjs and the lower lips becomes easily chopped. 

Frequent boils, frequent paronychias. 

Dry skin upon the extremities, upper arms, thighs, 
also upon the cheeks. 

Here and there scaly places upon the skin, causing a 
voluptuously delightful sort of itching, and a burning 
after the place has been scratched. 

Here and there a vesicle characterized by an in- 
tolerable but voluptuously delightful itching. At the top it 
is filled with pus, and there is a burning after it has been 
•scratched ; it is often found upon a finger, on the wrist, 
or elsewhere. 

Though frequently affected with some of these ail- 
ments, man may yet deem himself healthv, and is often 
considered so by others. These affections do not 
prevent him from leading a tolerably comfortable ex- 
istence, provided he is voung and robust, is not obliged 
to fatigue himself, has all his wants provided for, is not 
exposed to chagrin or grief, and has a cheerful, calm, 
patient and contented temper. In this case, the internal 

* The north-easters in Europe are dry and cutting. 



68 

psora may continue slumbering in the organism for years, 
without being observed by any other except the attentive 
connoisseur, or without becoming developed into a per- 
manent chronic disease. 

However, in persons that are affected with those ap- 
parently slight infirmities, a trivial cause, an ordinary 
vexation, a cold, an irregularity in the diet, etc, may, in 
a more advanced age, cause a violent though short attach 
of disease, a violent colic, inflammation of the chest or 
throat, erysipelas, fever, and similar diseases, the 
hemence of which often is out of proportion with the 
moderately exciting cause. Such diseases generally 
show themselves during the fall or winter season, but 
often also in spring more than at any other period. 

It sometimes happens that the patient who U 
with the latent psora, whether he be a child or a full- 
grown man, IJOV good health, but into 
circumstances which are tin Bite 01 those that 
I h ; scribed above ; hi nsm may have been 
very much weakened and disturbed by some nil 
idemic fever,* by a conta 

measles, hooping-cough, scarlatina, purple-rash, etc., 
or by some severe injury, by a shock] a fall, a wound] 
a large burn, by fracturing r an arm, by a hard 

labour, by the confinement consequent upon < 
and by the attcBopathic remedies which hax im- 

properly given to the patient ; or the vital i may 

have been weakened by leading ry life in a close 

damp room ; the soul may have been depressed by the 
death of beloved relatives, or the patient's life may h 
been embittered by daily chagrin and grief; or he may 
have become exposed to want, he may have become de- 
prived of the needful, and his strength and his fortitude 

* Acute fevers often terminate in causing a latent psora* which 
has become roused by the scute disease, t<> break nut upon the 

skin in the form of itch. The physicians who were ignorant of 
the existence of a lat< nt psora, declare this eruption to b 
itch bred by the bad humours with which the system of the 
patient is said to be filled. But the itch can, no more than the 
small-pox, measles or chancre, generate itself spontaneously ; it 
can only show itself upon the skin after infection has taken place. 



69 

may have failed him in consequence of bad nourishment J 
in that case the latent psora becomes roused and de- 
velops that host of inveterate symptoms which will be 
found enumerated below ; some one of the psoric chronic 
diseases breaks forth* and increases to a fearful height) 
especially by the improper treatment of alloeopathic 

* This kind of disease depends upon the original constitution 
of the patient, his peculiar mode of life, his character, the in- 
fluences of education, or upon the weaker parts of the organism at- 
tracting the psoric miasms by their higher adaptation to its nature, 
and causing it to form the diseases which are inherent in the 
peculiar vital activity of the affected organs. The eruption of 
the psoric disease is especially favoured by an irritable, vehement 
temper, by the exhaustion consequent upon frequent preg- 
nancy, excessive nursing of children, great bodily exertions, im- 
proper, unsuccessful treatment, excesses at table and dissolute 
nabits. Owing to its peculiar nature, the psoric disease may re- 
main latent under favourable circumstances. In this case the 
patient appears to enjoy good health, until unfavourable circum- 
stances set in, which rouse the internal disease and cause it to 
break out. Neither the relatives, nor the patient, or the physician 
himself can comprehend how it is possible that his health should 
have declined in this way so suddenly. The diseases which 
then break out, often even after a trivial occurrence, such as 
being confined to the bed for five or six w r eeks in consequence of 
a fracture of the leg — as I have witnessed in my own practice — 
cannot be traced to any cause ; they return in spite of a first 
successful treatment and of the strictest diet ; they increase each 
time they appear again in the system, especially in the fall, 
winter or spring, and finally settle down in the form of a 
lingering malady, against which the mineral baths are of no 
avail, and which cannot be treated according to the rules of the 
allceopathic practice, without exposing the patient to the danger 
of having a more severe disease substituted in the place of his 
former ailment. There are innumerable causes which may rouse 
the internal psora and cause it to develop its manifold germs ; the 
evil effects of those causes often bear no sort of apparent relation 
to them, which makes it impossible for a sensible man to con- 
sider them the true exciting causes of the secondary psoric 
disease, the often fearful character of which ought, on the con- 
trary, to be explained by the existence of a deep-seated latent 
disturbance, which has broke out on this occasion, and is the 
common mother of all such chronic secondary affections. 

Let us suppose, for example, the case of a younrr woman who 
has been infected with psora in her childhood, but who, accord- 
inor to appearance, enjoys good health, or what is commonly so 

3* 



70 

physicians, unless more favourable circumstances set in, 
diminishing the intensity of the disease, and making 
its ulterior development more moderate. 

called. In the third month of her pregnancy, she ha* 

fortune of being upset In her carriage. T I this 

accident, beside a si ighl i xterna] injur 

accompanied with considerable hemorrhag 

strength. In a few weeks Bhe has almost 

strength and health, when the news of a < ; - illness of 

beloved and absent sister puts hi 

to her former disease a multitude of n mplaints 

spasms, which makr het really sick, In a little whili 

ceives better r ; at las 

cured, pays Iter a visit. But tl k in 

spite of these agreeable infl 

to do better ; ail- 

menta return withi 

be it ever so • riny win 

the former, or th< i ded their plac( 

jted with an important chroi 

as to comprehend why the full vigour . 
moreover under favourable exfc rnal circumsl 
haw -hi nir t! u 

miscarriage; still less do we compn m ad wh) 
that sad new b should no1 hare bt come di 
the - 
Of the sister. 

If it he true tir.it 

effects, .is i- ;ih\ - difficult I 

Btand how. io the CSSe of tl 

ments should not have die 

The continuant 
they must have originated in a much m 

Which remained latent in tl i until th( 

contrary events (the mi ami the d 

excited its action. 

the organism. 

A merchant w ho seems to 
tion of a . which i 

connoisseur, often health in 

which reduce him to the brink of bankruptc] . We v. i" 1 
such a case, and we will also suppose that the heal; 
merchant declines more and more. Ii 
amply repaired by the death of a rich r« 
high prize in the lottery. But in spit 
his affairs. his health continues to 
can prescriptions, or t: 



71 

But suppose that the rapid development of the dis- 
ease should have been moderated, it cannot, however, 
be permanently cured, by the various fashionable reme- 
dies in use, such as baths, mercury, prussiq acid, iodine, 
digitalis, china, starvation ; they merely accelerate the 

dung to restore it ; on the contrary, they make, perhaps, the evil 
worse. 

A girl of good character, who, with the exception of a few 
symptoms of internal psora, enjoys good health, is forced to marry 
against her inclination. She feels wretched ; her health declines, 
although there is no trace of venereal disease. Her sufferings 
are increasing without heing relieved by the medicines which 
allceopathic physicians give her. After she has. suffered for a 
year, her husband is taken from her by death. She now seems to 
revive in the conviction of being soon freed from all bodily and 
mental suffering ; she even hopes soon to have recovered perfect 
health ; for the cause of her disease has ceased to exist. She 
improves, indeed, but she remains sickly ; and, despite of the 
vigour of her youth, she is frequently attacked with illness, which 
seems even to increase from year to year, without any apparent 
cause, especially in the rough season. 

An unjustly suspected person, who has become entangled in a 
criminal suit, has become affected with various ailments du- 
ring the time of the proceedings ; before the suit commenced 
she seemed to enjoy good health, with the exception of a few 
symptoms of internal psora. Her innocence is at last acknow- 
ledged, and she is honourably acquitted. One should say that 
this happy event must infuse new life into her and free her from 
all her bodily sufferings. But this is not the case; on the con- 
trary, at times her disease returns, and it seems even to increase 
from year to year, especially in the winter season. 

If the disagreeable event had been the sole and sufficient cause 
of all these sufferings, does it not seem natural to conclude, that 
the cessation of the cause ought to be succeeded by a cessation 
of its effects ] But the ailments do not cease; on the contrary, 
they are renewed from time to time in an increasing degree, which 
makes it manifest that the disagreeable event which we have 
supposed above, is not the real cause of the sufferings, but that 
it has merely roused into action a more deep-seated and much- 
more formidable principle of disease, which was hitherto latent 
in the system. 

Science has now revealed to us the nature of this internal ene- 
my, and the means to conquer him ; we know now that it is a 
deep-seated psora slumbering in the inmost recesses of the or- 
ganism, and which the robustcst constitution would have been in- 
sufficient to expel, unless aided by the efforts of art. 



72 

approach of death, which puts an end to the sufferings 
that physicians were unable to relieve. 

If, under unfavourable external circuit l, ihe 

formerly latent psora has been roused from its slumber, 
the patient loses all chance of recovery in the hands 
of alloeopathic physicians ; they assail his oi 
without mercy, undermining its very foundations by 
their violent and improper remedies. Even if tin 
ternal circumstances become, favourable to the patient, 
the disease goes on in its course, and bee i orse 

and worse. 

When the internal psora } which n latent hith- 

erto, and has been kept in bounds I ItitU- 

tion and favourable circumstan 

latent state and passes into >ndarv B nala- 

dics, all the aboi d lympl which the inter- 

nal latent psora manifests its i come m 

distinct and violent ; they vary m i uals 

according to constitution, hi 
tion, habit, mode of life, diet, occupation, 

cies of the mind, morals, etc. 

The follow ac- 

teristic of the secondary which the internal 

psora generally terminates. I bare collected them from 
my own experience at the whom I 

have treated successfully, and whom I knew, by ll 
own confession, to hav | with the itch, 

without the disease having been compli 
syphilis or sycosis. J am frilling to believe that others 
may have seen a great many mon ride 

those which I shall no* rve, 

that among these symptoms thei v which arc 

opposed to each other. This is owing to the constitu- 
tional differences of the patients, existing at the time 
wdien the psora first broke out, ami is not in the way of 
a cure. One symptom often is met with more rarely 
than its opposing one. 

Vertigo ; the patient reels in walking. 

Vertigo, on closing the eyes, every thing around him 
seems to turn ; he is then attacked with nausea. 



73 

Vertigo ; on turning briskly he almost falls over, 
Vertigo, attacking him with a jerk in the head ; he 
loses his senses for a moment. 

Vertigo, accompanied with frequent eructations. 

Vertigo, on looking down upon the floor, or on look- 
ing up. 

Vertigo, in walking along a road in a plain, which is 
not enclosed on either side. 

Vertigo ; she appears to herself either too large or too 
small ; other objects, likewise, appear either too large or 
too small. 

Vertigo, resembling a swoon. 

Vertigo, causing a loss of consciousness. 

Numbness and giddiness of the head ; the patient can 
neither think, nor accomplish any mental labour. 

She cannot control her thoughts. 

At times she seems to be deprived of thought ; she 
sits there as if she were absent. 

The head feels benumbed and drowsy in the open air. 

Sometimes he sees everything dim or black on walk- 
ing or stooping, or raising the head from stooping. 

Rush of blood to the head. 1 

Heat in the head, and in the face. 2 

Feeling of cold pressure on the head. 3 

Dull headache in the morning, on w T aking up, or 
in the afternoon, either on walking fast or speaking 
loud. 

Headache on one side, at certain periods, (after twen- 
ty-eight, fourteen, or a less number of days ;) more fre- 
quently about the period when there is either full or new 
moon ; or after vivid emotions, colds, etc., pressure or 
other pain on the top of the head or in the head, or a 
boring pain above one eye. 4 



(1) During which he is attacked with sadness, with anxiety 
and dread of labour. 

(2) The hands and feet are often cold. 

(3) Ordinarily accompanied with anxiety. 

(4) At the same time often a great inward uneasiness. Anx- 



74 

Headache, daily, at certain hours ; for example, shoot- 
ing pains in the temples. 1 

Attacks of pulsating headache, (for example, in the 
forehead,) with nausea, which threatens to make him fall 
to the ground, or vomiting from morning till <. 
every fortnight ; sometimes before, sometimes after this 
period. 

Headache as if the skull would tear open. 

Drawing pain in the he 

Headache, twinges in the head, (coming out by the 
ears.) 3 

Headache, shooting pains in the head coming out by 
the ears. 4 Din in the Drain, sinLrmir, humming, noise, 
thunder, etc The hairy SCalp red wiih scales, 

with or without itchi 

EraptlOOl on the heid, scald, malignant scabs, (the 
crust Ming more at lest thick,) with she, n when 

a liquid una out ; int itching qui 

wet stage ; ihe whole top of the head painfully ftffoi 



iv in th< 
painful stools, weight in the limbs, tremblii 

whole bodj ; t< osion of .ill the in Tvrs, with irr« at irritability 

and sensitw light ; it Ka tl « >\\ - 

lis np ; i 1 me times >top- 

uj) with a cold ; cliills. sometimes tlu-l- t; .-(inti- 

Dual nausea, also retching and vomitii - lying thi re either 

as if she were stumu d, oi throws hi r>< 1: - it' full oi 

guish ; the attacks last twelve, twenty-four and mop' hours. After 
the attack, thi . with sad i feel- 

ing of tension in the a hole bodj ; before tt ritly 

experiences twitches in the Limbs durinc 
Bleep ; has painful in of the U 

tendency to start at sudden 

(1) They sometimes swell op, with tears in 

(2) In soin, drawing pain. 

the neck, and going to the hack pari of the w 

over the whole head and face, which frequent - an from 

the pain; the head is painful to the touch ; frequently tin n 

nausea. 

(3) Usually in walking, especially in walking and Caking 
ercise after eating. 

(4) They often see everything black. 



75 

by the open air ; at the same time hard glandular swell- 
ings on the back part of the neck. 

Hair feels as if it were dried ; hair falling out abund- 
antly, especially on the forepart and on the top of the 
head, or in the centre of the crown, or baldness of 
some places. 

Painful tubercles on the skin of the head, coming and 
going, like boils ; round tumours. 1 

Sensation of constriction in the skin of the head and 
face. 

Paleness of the face in the first sleep, with a blue 
circle round the eyes. 

Frequent redness and heat of the face. 2 

Yellowish colour, yellowness of the face. 

Gray, yellow colour of the face. 

Erysipelas on the face. 3 

Aching pain above the eyes, especially late in the 
evening ; he* is obliged to close them. 

He cannot look at anything long without everything 
appearing to flicker. 

Objects appear to move. 

The eyelids- especially in the morning, feel as if 
they were shut, (for minutes, sometimes even for hours ;) 
he cannot open them ; the eyelids are heavy, as if par* 
alyzed or drawn together spasmodically. 

Eyes extremely sensible to the daylight ; it makes 
them smart, and they shut involuntarily. 4 

Sensation of cold in the eyes. 

Corners of the eyes full of purulent mucus, (gum.) 

Edges of the eyelids covered with dry scurf. 

The meibomian glands round the edges of one of the 
eyelids are inflamed, either one or more, (stye.) 

(1) In rare cases they terminate in suppuration! 

(2) He becomes very feeble, he feels exhausted or full of 
anxiety, and sweats all over the upper part of his body : some- 
times the eyes become dim. they sop black, he is sad, the head 
seems to be too full, with burning in the temples. 

(3) In some cases there is much fever, sometimes also burn- 
ing, itching, watery pustules with a shooting pain, in the face, 
which'tum into scabs; (pustulous erysipelas.) 

(4) Usually with more or less inflammation. 



76 

Inflammation of the eyes, of various kinds. 1 

Yellowness of the white of the eyes. 2 

Yellowness round the eyes. 

Dark opaque spots on the cornea. 3 

Dropsy of the eye. 

Obscuration of the crystalline lens ; cataract ; squinting. 

Longsightedness. He sees at a distance, hut cannot 
distinguish clearly small objects which are held near. 

Nearsightedness. He can see distinctly even very 
small objects, when he holds them near; but the 
farther the object the less distinctly does he see it ; and 
at a distance, not at all. 

False sight. Me sees objects double, or multiplied, 
or he sees only one-half of an obj 

Musca rolitantes, black points. dark or a net- 

work move before h Jly on looking into 

the bright daylight. 

Objects are h a gauze or a cloud, the 

sight is dim at certain | 

Blindness by night. 1 [( I in the 

but nothing during twilight 

Blindness by day. I fe sees w< 11 only in the twilight 

Gulta serena, uninterrupted dimness of the si^ 
which finally increases to blindn 

Painful sensibility of several parts of the face, the 
checks, the cheek bones, the lower jaw, etc.. either 
touching those parts, or in speaking, or chewing; there 
is a sensation of subcut of sting 

and lancinating ; in chewing"' especially there is twheh- 



(1) Fistula lachiymalifl has probably no _ r in than 
psora. 

(2) Or gray colour of tl.r 1 

(8) Even without haying previously had an inflammation of 
the eyes* 

(J) More frequently without an obscuration of tl inr 

lens than with it. 

(5) In chewing or speaking there is a similar twitching mo- 
tion on the sides of his head; at those places pTOtahefan 
painful boils, etc, are often formed. If the pain is in^upporta- 



77 



ing, shooting and straining in the muscles, which pre- 
vents him from dating. 



o* 



Hearing is excessively irritable and sensitive ; she 
cannot hear the sound of a bell without tremor ; the 
noise of a drum throws her into convulsions, and the 
ear is painfully affected by various sounds. 

He has shooting pains coming out by the ear. 1 

Crawling and itching in the ear. 2 

Dryness, dry scurf in the ears, without wax. 

Running, from the ear, of a thin, usually fetid pus. 

Pulsating sensation in the ear. 

Noise and different sounds in the ear. 3 

'W ant of hearing in different degrees, even to com- 
plete deafness, with or without noise, varying according 
to the weather. 

Swelling of the parotid glands. 3 

Bleeding from the nose more or less abundantly and 
frequently. 

Nostrils as if stopped up. 4 

Troublesome sensation of dryness in the nose, even 
when the air passes freelv. 

Polypi of the nose, (usually with loss of smell,) which 
often extend through the meatus down the throat. 

Smell either weak or lost. 

Perversion of smell. 5 

Smell too strong, high and highest sensitiveness, even 
to the w r eakest odours. 



ble and accompanied with a burning heat, it is called Fother- 
gill's pain in the face. 

(1) Especially while walking in the open air. 

(2) Such as singing, rustling, whizzing, snorting, buzzing, 
chirping, ringing, drumming, thundering, fluttering, flapping, 
murmuring, etc. 

(3) Often with shooting pains in the glands. 

(4) Either one or both of them at once, or alternately the one 
or the other; often there is only a feeling of being stopped up, 
though the air passes through with ease. 

(5) For example, a smell of manure, or some other peculiar 
smell in the nose. 



78 

Scurf in the nose, running of pus, or hardened clots 
of mucus. 1 

Fetid smell in the nose. 

Nostrils frequently ulcerating, surrounded with pim- 
ples and scurf. 

Swelling and redness of the nose, or of the tip of the 
nose, either frequently or permanently. 

Under the nose or on the upper lip, long continued 
scurf, or itching pimples. 

The vermilion border of the lips quite pale. 

The vermilion border of the lips is dry, scurfy, scaly, 
it cracks. 

Swelling of the lips, especially the upper one. 8 

The inside of the lips is set with little ulcers or pus- 
tules. 3 

Cutaneous eruptions, where the skin is covered with 
the beard, or at the roots of the beard-hair, with itching. 

Innumerable kinds of eruption on the face. 4 

Glands of the lower jaw swollen, or passing into a 
state of chronic suppuration. 

Glandular swellings down the sides of the neck. 

Gums bleeding on the slightest touch. 

The inside or outside of the gums feels sore. 

Gnawing itching at the gums. 

Gums whitish, swollen, painful to the touch. 

Gums disappear, leaving the front teeth bare, even 
their roots. 

Grating of the teeth during sleep. 

Looseness or decay of the teeth, of various kinds, 
even without toothache. ' 

Toothache of co.untless kinds, from many sorts of ex- 
citing causes. 

Cannot remain in bed from the toothache. 



(1) Sometimes also with running of an acrid mucus from the 
nose. 

(2) Sometimes with a burning, biting pain. 

(3) Often very painful, coming and goinir. 

(4) Crusta lactea, pimples, herpes, carcinomatous ulcers on 
the nose, lips and face, with burning and shooting pain. 



79 

Painful pustules and sore places on the tongue. 

Tongue coated white, or unevenly covered with a 
white substance. 

Tongue pale, blueish white. 

Tongue covered with deep furrows scattered all over ; 
the tongue looks as if it had been torn on the upper sur- 
face. 

Tongue dry. 

Feeling of dryness on the tongue, though there is 
the usual quantity of moisture. 

Stammering, stuttering, also sudden attacks of an in- 
capacity of speaking. 

Painful pustules, ulcerations on the inside of the 
cheeks. 

Flow of blood from the mouth, often in great abund- 
ance. 

Feeling of dryness on the whole inside of the mouth, 
or only at some places, or deep in the throat. 1 

Bad smell from the mouth. 

Burning in the throat. 

Constant flow of saliva, particularly in speaking, es- 
pecially in the morning. 

Continual spitting. 

A quantity of pituitous matter in the throat, which he 
is obliged to loosen with great exertions ; he often 
throws it up in the day, especially in the morning. 

Frequent internal inflammation of the throat, and swell- 
ing of the parts w T hich aid in the process of swallowing. 

Insipid slimy taste in the mouth. 

Intolerably sweet taste in the mouth, almost constantly. 
( Bitter taste in the mouth, especially in the morning. 2 

Sourish and sour taste in the mouth, especially after 
a meal, though the food tastes well. 3 

Fetid and putrid taste in the mouth. 

(1) Chiefly on waking up in the night or in the morning, with 
or without thirst ; a high degree of dryness in the throat is often 
accompanied with pricking pains in swallowing. 

(2) Sometimes uninterruptedly. 

(3) In rare cases there is a repugnantly sweet taste in. the 
| mouth, even without eating or drinking. 



80 

Bad smell from the mouth, sometimes mouldy, some 
times putrid, like the smell of old cheese, or of fetid 
sweaty feet, or rotten sourcrout 

Risings from the stomach, empty, loud risings of air 
merely, incontrollable, lasting often for whole hours, and 
frequently in the night. 

Checked risings from the stomach, which occasion 
spasmodic straining in the oesophagus, without coming 
out at the mouth. 

Sour risings, either fasting, or after a meal, especially 
after having tasted milk. 

Risings which excite vomiting. 

Risings, rancid, especially after having eaten any 
thing greasy. 

Risings, putrid or mouldy, early in the morning. 

Frequent risings before eating, with a sort oi rabid 
hunger. 

I Leartburn, more or less frequent ; thc^e is a burning 
all along the chest] ially after breakfast, or on 

moving the body. 

Flowing of a sort of salivary fluid from the stomach; 
preceded by writhing pains about the stomach (the 
pancreas,) with weakness in the pit of the stomach ; a 
fainting SOtl of nausea, and conflux of saliva in the mouth, 
even during the night ;' (water-brash.) 

The complaints which are prevalent in any part of 
the body, are excited by the use of fresh fruits, espe- 
cially of acid fruits, and of vinegar, (eating salad, etc.) 

Nausea, early in the morning. 2 

Nausea, even to vomiting, early in the morning, af- 
ter rising from the bed ; it is lessened by motion. 

Nausea, always after having eaten greasy things or 
milk. 

Vomiting of blood. 

Hiccough after eating or drinking. 



(1) It also degenerates into vomiting of water, mucus, or 
acid, acrid substances, especially after having eaten flour dump- 
lings, flatuous vegetables, stewed prunes, etc. 

(2) Often arising very suddenly, 



BJ 

Spasms of the oesophagus often prevent swal- 
lowing ; this sometimes causes a man to die of hunger. 
Spasmodic, involuntary swallowing. 

Frequent sensation of fasting, and emptiness in the sto- 
mach, (or abdomen,) often with much saliva in the mouth. 

Violent craving for food, (rabid hunger,) especially 
in the morning ; he is obliged to eat immediately, other- 
wise he feels sick and trembling, (and when in the open 
air, he is often obliged to stretch himself suddenly on 
the ground.) 

\ lolent craving for food, with rumbling and grunting 
in the belly. 

Appetite without hunger ; a desire arises to swallow 
suddenly all sorts of things without the stomach craving 
them. 

A kind of hunger ; but by eating even ever so little, 
she is at once satisfied and feels full. 

When she wishes to eat she has a feeling of fulness 
in the chest, and her throat is filled with mucus. 

Want of appetite ; only a gnawing, twisting and 
writhing in the stomach forces her to eat. 

Repugnance to boiled and warm food, especially 
boiled meat ; there is only a desire for black bread (and 
butter) or for potatoes. 1 

Thirst ; constant thirst, or only in the morning on rising. 

In the pit of the stomach there is a sensation of 
swelling, painful to the touch. 

Feeling of cold in the pit of the stomach. 

Oppression at the stomach, or in the pit of the sto- 
mach, as if there were a stone, like a cramp. 2 . 

Beatings and pulsations in the stomach, even fasting. 

Spasm of the stomach ; pain in the pit of the sto- 
mach, as if from constriction. 3 

Painful griping of the stomach ; x there is griping of 
the stomach, especially after cold drinking. 



(1) Sometimes accompanied with vomiting of mucus and 
water ; unless this vomiting takes place, the griping continues 
'unabated. 



82 

Pain at the stomach; the stomach feels sore, even 
on eating the most harmless food. 

Oppression at the stomach, even before breakfast, but 
especially after eating any kind of food, or particular 
kinds, such as fruit, green vegetables, black bread, food 
prepared with vinegar, etc. 1 

While eating, he is attacked with giddiness, threat- 
ens to fall to one side. 

After the slightest supper, he is affected with heat in the 
bed, (constipation and great lassitude early in the morning.) 

After a meal, a feeling of anxiety accompanied with 
sweat, such as is consequent upon anxiety.* 

On eating, sweat breaks out immediately. 

Vomiting, immediately after a meal. 

After a meal, oppression and burning at the stomach, 
or in the epigastrium, almost like heartburn. 

After a meal, a burning sensation in the oesoph 
from below upwards. 

After a meal, distention of the abdomen. 3 

After a meal, weary and sleepy. 4 

After a meal, he feels as if he wore intoxicated. 

After a meal, headache. 

After a meal, beating of the heart. 

Eating alleviates several, even remote, complaints. 

The flatuosities, instead of passing off, become dis- 
placed ; this causes a multitude of both bodily and men- 
tal ailments. 6 

(1) The slightest quantity of these things prodi . pain 
or numbness in the jaws, tattling pain In the teeth, considerable 
accumulation of mucus in the throat. \ 

(2) Pains which reappear at different places, for instance, 
shooting pains in the lips, griping and grinding pains in the ab- 
domen; pressure in the chest, heaviness in the back and small 
of the back, even to nausea; in this case vomiting", artifici 
excited, alleviates the suffering. In some persons the anx 
consequent upon eating increases to such an extent that the \ 
sire to destroy themselves by strangulation. 

(3) Sometimes accompanied with lassitude in arms and legs. 

(4) The patient is often obliged to lie down and sleep. 

(5) Sometimes drawing pains in the limbs, especially the 
lower extremities, or stitches in the pit of the stomach, or in the 
sides of the abdomen, etc. 



83 

Flatuosities distend the abdomen ;' the abdomen 
feels full, especially after a meal. 

The patient feels as if the flatuosities ascended ; these 
are then succeeded by eructations, frequent burning in 
the throat, or vomiting, by day and by night. 

Pain in the hypochondria on being touched, or during 
motion, also during rest. 

Painful constrictions in the epigastrium, close below 
the ribs. 

Cutting pains in the abdomen, which seem to ori- 
ginate in displaced flatuosities, (or flatuosities that have 
become entangled ;) these pains are always accompa- 
nied with a sensation of fulness in the abdomen ; the 
flatuosities seem to rise. 

Cutting pains in the abdomen, almost daily, especi- 
ally in children ; more frequently early in the morning 
than at any other time of the day; in some cases, day 
and night, without diarrhoea. 

Cutting pains in the abdomen, especially in the hy- 
pogastric or lumbar regions of one side. 2 

A feeling of desolateness and wild confusion or un- 
pleasant emptiness in the abdomen ; 3 even immediately 
after a meal he felt as if he had not eaten at all. 

After having been constipated for several days, she 
experiences a sensation of constriction below the 
stomach, as from a band ; this sensation comes from the 
small of the back and passes round the abdomen. 

Pain in the liver on touching the right hypogastric 
region. 



(1) The flatuosities frequently ascend; sometimes, but less 
frequently, an enormous quantity of flatuosities passes off, espe- 
cially early in the morning; they are without smell and without 
alleviating the rest of the complaints ; at other times there passes 

' off a large quantity of uncommonly fetid wind. 

(2) The cutting pain sometimes descends all along the rec- 
tum and the thigh. 

(3) Sometimes existing in alternation with painful constric- 
tions of the abdomen. 



84 

Pain in the liver ; pressure and tension ; tension below 
the ribs of the right side. 

Tension and pressure, coming from under the last 
ribs (in the hypochondria,) which arrests breathing, and 
produces a feeling of anxious care. 

Pain in the liver ; stitches, especially on stooping sud- 
denly. 

Inflammation of the liver. 

Pressure in the hypogastric region, as from a stone. 1 

Hardness of the hypogastrium. 

Spasmodic colic, a cramp in the intestines. 

During the colic, coldness of one side of the abdomen. 

Audible rumbling and grunting in the abdomen. 2 

Uterine spasms, resembling labour pains ; cramp-like 
pains in the uterus, obliging the patient to lie down ; 
they often distend the abdomen in a short time, with- 
out producing flatuosities. 

Pressure in the abdomen towards the genital organs. 3 

Inguinal hernias ; they become painful through sing- 
ing and speakin 

Swelling of the inguinal glands, sometimes tormina 
ling in suppuration. 

Constipation ; the stools often delay for several days, 
though there is frequently an unsuccessful desire for stool. 

The stools are hard, look burnt, come out in little 
clots, like the excrements of sheep, sometimes covered 
with a slimy substance and even with streaks of blood. 

(1) The pressure often rises to the pit of the stomach ; it there 
causes a sensation of grinding, and excites vomiting. 

(2) These symptoms sometimes only exist in the left side of 
the abdomen ; during an inspiration they rise, during an expi- 
ration they descend. 

(3) There is a pressure downwards, as if prolapsus were to 
come on ; when the pressure ceases, she feels heavy in all her 
limbs ; her limbs feel benumbed ; she is obliged to stretch her 
arms and her body. 

(4) Inguinal hernias generally spring from internal psora ; 
if we except the few cases where these parts have been injured 
by great external violence, or where hernia has been caused 
by superhuman bodily efforts, through sudden lifting or pushing 
consequent upon anxious surprise. 



85 

Stools composed of mere slime (slimy hemorrhoids.) 

Passing of ascarides by Uie anus* 

Passing of fragments of ta3nia. 

Stools, the first part of which is generally very hard 
and passes off with great pain; the latter half is liquid 
as in diarrhoea. 

Stools very pale, whitish. 

Gray stools. 

Green stools. 

Clay-coloured stools. 

Stools smelling fetid and sour. 

Cutting in the rectum on passing the stools. 

Diarrhoea, lasting for weeks, months and years. 1 

Diarrhoea frequently returning, lasting for several days 
and accompanied with cutting pains in the abdomen. 

Great and sudden loss of strength after having passed 
the stools, especially when they were rather soft and 
abundant. 2 

Diarrhoea soon weakens her so much that she canno 
walk alone. 

\arices 3 of the rectum, either painless or painful 
^blind hemorrhoids.) 

Bleeding varices of the rectum, 4 especially on pass- 
ng the stools ; afterwards the varices are painful for a 
ong time (flowing hemorrhoids.) 

Hemorrhage from the anus is accompanied with 
short breathing and orgasm. 

- Sensation of crawling and itching in the rectum, 
kith or without the passing of ascarides. 

Itching and gnawing in the rectum and perineum. 
Polypi in the rectum. 

(1) Generally there is much rumbling from fennentation in the 
ibdomen, especially early in the morning. 

,' (2 Especially loss of strength in the pit of the stomach, anx- 
ety, uneasiness, sometimes chills over the abdomen, in the small 
>f the back, etc. 
. (3) Sometimes a slimy liquid ekes out. 

(4) Fistula in ano most probably generally originate in psora, 
•^specially when stimulating diet, an abundance of spirituous 
iquors, purgatives, a sedentary mode of life and sexual abuses 
supervene. 

4 



86 

The patient complains of anxiety and loss of strength 
during micturition. 

Urine sometimes passes o'ff in too large a quantity ; 
this causes a sudden loss of strength. 1 

Painful retention of urine (in children and old people.) 
When he feels cold (through and through) he is unable 
to urinate. 

She is sometimes so distended that she is unable to 
urinate. 

The urethra is constricted in different parts, espe- 
cially early in the morning. 2 

Pressure upon the bladder, as if from a desire to uri- 
nate, immediately, after drinking. 

He is unable to hold his urine, there is a sensation of 
pressure upon the bladder ; urine passes off while the 
patient is walking, sneezing, coughing, laughing. 

The patient is frequently obliged to pass his urine in 
the night; for that purpose be lias to rise frequently, 

After urinating; the urine continues to flow in drops 
for a long time. 

Urine passes off in great abundance in the shape of a 
whitish, sweetish-smelling and - ting liquid; 

this is accompanied with thinness and an inextinguisha- 
ble thirst, (diabetes.) 

In urinating there arc burning and lancinating pains 
in the urethra and in the neck of the bladder. 

Urine has an acrid and pungent smell. 

Urine \speedily deposits a sediment. 

Urine passes off cloudy and turbid. 

Red sand passes off from time to time together with 
the urine, (gravel.) 

(1) Dysuria, which Is generally fatal vrhfen treated allceopa- 
thically, has probably no other origin than psora. 

(2) The urine often passes off | I thread, or it scat- 
ters ; the urine often passes off in jerks, at Long in This 
passing off by intervals often comes from a cramp in the neek 
of the bladder, which antagonises the action of the bladder, and 
originates in the same psoric miasm. The inflammation of the 
bladder, arising from strictures of the urethra, and the fistulae in 
vesica, consequent upon such strictures, likewise originate in 
psora, though it happens in a few rare cases, that there is a com 
plication of sycosis and psora. 



87 

Dark yellow urine. 

Brown urine. 

Blackish urine. 

Urine intermixed with blood, also hematuria. 

The prostatic fluid often passes off after urinating 
especially after difficult stools ; the fluid sometimes 
passes off without interruption, drop by drop. 1 

Nightly pollutions, once, twice, three times a week, 
and sometimes even every night. 2 

Nightly effusion of semen in the woman succeeding 
voluptuously-delightful dreams.* 

Nightly pollutions ; they are attended with evil con- 
sequences, not often, but immediately. 3 

Semen passes off' during the day almost involunta- 
rily, even when there is little irritation, and often, even 
without erection. 

Erection, very frequent, long continuing, very painful, 
without pollutions. 

The semen does not pass, 4 even after the embrace has 
lasted for a long time, and the erection has been suffi- 
cient ; but afterwards it passes off either in nightly pol- 
lutions or with the urine. 

Accumulation of water in the tunica vaginalis testis, 
(hydrocele.) 

There is never any complete erection, even in spite 
of the most voluptuous sensations. 

Painful twitches in the muscles of the penis. 

(1) The constant loss of the prostatic fluid sometimes results 
in consumption. 

(2) In healthy and chaste young men, these pollutions take 
place every 12 or 14 days ; this is the order of nature, and in- 
duces cheerfulness, strength and contentment. 

* Note of the Translator : According to modern physiolo- 
gists, the woman does not emit semen, but merely mucus. 

(3) Gloominess of the intellect, numbness, dimness of thought, 
diminished vividness of the imagination, want of memory, de- 
pression of spirits, sadness ; sight, digestion and appetite are 
weakened ; stools cease to pass, there arises a pressing of the 
blood towards the head, the anus, etc. 

(4) During such an embrace the testes remain relaxed, and 
hang- down more or less. 



88 

Itching at the scrotum ; the scrotum is sometimes 
covered with pimples and scabs. 

Chronic swelling or knotty induration of one or both 
testes, (sarcocele.) 

Dwindling, lessening, disappearing of one or both 
testes. 

Induration and enlargement of the prostatic gland. 

Drawing pain in the testes and the spermatic chord. 

Painful sensation of contusion in the tes 

Want of sexual desire in both sexes, either frequent 
or constant. 1 

Immoderate, insatiable desire for coition, 2 accompanied 
with a livid complexion and sickly body- 
Sterility, impotence, without there being any organic 
defect of the parts of generation. 3 

Disorder of the menstrual functions ; the mens< 
not appear regularly on the twenty-eighth day after the 
appearance of the Former, do not appear without 1)( 
accompanied by other morbid symptoms, nor do tl 
come on suddenly ; do not continue unintcrrupt* 
four days, with a moderate flow of healthy-coloured, 
good blood, until they gradually reach their end on the 
fourth day, without the genera] health of either body or 
mind being disturbed ; they do not last until the forty- 

(1) Often tor ninny \ual pari 

either male or female are incapable of pleasural 

corpus penis bangs <lo\\n relaxed, is thinner than th< 

whieh t'ctls cold, and looks bluei&b or white; in tin 

f>arts, the labia majora art- inaccessible to irritation, thi 
.1 and small ; the vagina is dull and incapable of bei 
ed, generally dry ; sometimes mere is tailing of hair, 
baldness of the female parts of «_. r < m ration. 

(2) lletromania and nymphomania have the same origin. 

(3) Too frequent nn 1 nt desires ; the imp 
feet, and watery semen passes off too soon; want of erection ; 
the semen passes off too scantily ; want of sexual del 
monthly monorrhagia; constant flow of blood ; menses either 
watery, or too scanty, or suppressed; abundant leueorrlnea, in- 
duration of the ovaries; the mammae have either dwindled down 
or have become knotty; insensibility, or painful sensibil it 
the genital organs are the first and usual symptoms of sterility in 
both sexes. 



89 

eighth or fiftieth year, nor do they then disappear grad- 
ually and without pain. 

The menses are delaying beyond the fifteenth year 
and later ; or. after having made their appearance once 
or twice, they discontinue for months and years. 1 

The period is not regular ; it returns too soon In- 
some days ; sometimes it returns every three weeks or 
even every fortnight." 

The menses flow only for one day, a few hours, or 
imperceptibly. 

The menses flow five, six, or eight days ; but there is 
only a little flow every six, twelve, twenty-four hours ; 
there are intervals of half and whole days. 

The menses are too abundant, last for weeks, or they 
return every day, (flowing of blood.) 3 

The menstrual blood is watery ; it forms brown clots. 

The menses smell badly. 

The menstrual flow is painful, accompanied with 
swoons, shooting or spasmodically contracting pains in 
the head, cutting pains in the abdomen or in the small of 
the back ; she is obliged to lie down or to vomit, etc. 

Polypi in the vagina. 

Leucorrhcea, sometimes a few days before, sometimes 

(1) Consequent upon this suppression is livid paleness, tume- 
faction of the face ; heaviness in the legs ; swelling of the feet; 
chilliness, lassitude, asthma, (chlorosis,) etc. 

(2) It rarely delays a few days, and then the flow is exces- 
sive ; the patient threatens to fall from weariness, and has a 
great many other complaints. 

(3) This is followed by swelling of the face, of the hands and 
feet, painful spasms in the breast and abdomen, innumerable 
nervous complaints, nervous weakness, excessive sensitiveness, 
both general and of some particular senses, etc. Before the 
blood begins to flow there are anxious dreams, frequent waking 
up in a fit of orgasm ; beatings of the heart, uneasiness, etc. 
When the flow of blood from the uterus is more considerable 
than usual, it is accompanied with cutting pains in one side of 
the abdomen and in the groin; the cutting sometimes descends 
along the rectum and into the thigh ; combined with these symp- 
toms there is a difficulty of urinating ; and the pain often pre- 

ta her from sitting ; after these pains the abdomen feels sore, 
as if it were festering. 



90 

after the menstrual flux, or during the whole time from 
one period to another ; this leucorrhoea diminishes the 
flow of the menses, or continues in their stead ; flows 
like milk, like a white and yellow mucus, or like pun- 
gent, badly smelling water. 1 

Premature delivery. 

During pregnancy there is great lassitude, nausea, fre- 
quent vomiting, swoons, painful varices of the veins of 
the thighs or legs, also, sometimes of the labia ; hysteric 
complaints of various kinds, etc 



Cold in the head, immediately on going out into the 
open air; in the room afterwards the head feels as if it 
were stopped up from the cold. 

Head and nose feel as if they were stopped up from a 
cold, either continually so, or often so, or almost contin- 
ually 

Catarrh from the slightest exposition to cold, mostly 
during the rough season and in wet weal 1 

Catarrh, very frequently, or almost continually, some- 
times even uninterruptedly* 

Impossibility of catching cold, notwithstanding there 
are strong indications for it. and the patient is otherwise 
afflicted with greal ailments originating in psora. 

(1) The Leucorrhma of i more malignant kind is accompanied 
by all sorts of complaints, even without mentioning the lesser 

i, (itching at the pudenda and in the vagina ; with 
on the outside of the pudenda and the neighbouring part of 
thighs especially in walking ;) the higher degrees 01 this trouble- 
some discharge are frequently followed by hysterica] sympl 
of every kind, moral and mental deran . melanch 

alienation of the mind, ep'ii 

tient all of a sudden, being then preceded by grinding pain- 
one side of the abdomen, burning in th< . in the ab 
men, in the vagina, stitches in the vagina and the os tines . 
cramp in the uterus, or pressuri i though 
every thing were to be pressed oul : someti 
pain in the small of the back ; the flal 

which causes pain, etc. Has cancer of the womb e ori- 

gin except psora ? 



91 

Hoarseness after the slightest talk ; she has to throw 
up in order to clear the voice. 

Hoarseness, sometimes aphony, (she cannot speak 
loud, lias to speak in a low tone of voice.) after a slight 
cold. 

Permanent hoarseness and aphony, often for years ; 
he cannot utter a loud word. 

Suppuration of the pharynx and larynx, (laryngeal 
phthisis.) 1 

t Hoarseness and catarrh, very frequently, or almost 
continually ; his chest is continually affected. 

Cough ; there is frequently an irritation and a crawling 
in the throat ; the cough torments him, until sweat breaks 
out upon the face, (and upon the hands.) 

Cough, which does not abate until there is retching 
and vomiting, mostly early in the morning or in the eve- 
ning. 

Cough, each attack terminating in sneezing. 

Cough, mostly in the evening after lying down; it 
always comes on when the head lies deep. 

Cough, which wakes the patient after he has slept but 
a short while. 

Cough, especially in the night. 

Cough ; it is worse early in the morning on waking 

Cough, most violent after a meal. 

Cough, at each deep breathing. 

Cough, producing a feeling of soreness in the chest, 
or sometimes stitches in the side of the chest or abdomen. 

Dry cough. 

Cough, with dry, pus-like expectoration, with or with- 
out spilling of blood. 2 

(1) Croup cannot come on in a child which is free from latent 
psora, or which has heen freed from it by treatment. 

(2) Suppuration of the lungs most probably always origi nates 
in psora, even when fumes of mercury or arsenic seem to be the 
cause ; at any rate, most cases of suppuration of the lungrs spring 
from inflammation of the chest, mismanaged by blood-letting ; 
this disturbance ought always to be considered as an indication 
of excited psora. 



92 

Cough, inducing a considerable expectoration of 
mucus, and falling of strength (tabes mucosa). 

Attacks of spasmodic cough. 1 

Violent, intolerable stitches in the chest at each breath- 
ing; pain will not allow him to cough; there is no in- 
flammatory fever (spurious pleurisy). 

Pain in the chest, on walking, as though the chest were 
to burst. Aching pain in the chest on breathing deep, 
and sneezing. 

Frequently a lightly oppressive pain in the cl 
unless it passes away soon, it degenerates into the deep- 
est dejection of spirits. 2 

Burning pain in the chest. 

Frequent stitches in the chest, with or without COUgb. 

Acute pleurisy ; there is great heat of the body, and 
stitches in the chest which prevent him from breathi 
accompanied With h 1 sis and headache ; he is ( 

fined to his bed. 

Night-mare ; during the night he generally starts from 
an oppressive dream, but he is unable to stir, to call, to 
speak; and when he endeavours to move, he suffers in- 
tolerable pain, as though he were being torn. 1 ' 

Displacement of breath with Btitchei in the chest, 
coming on at the slightest motion : 4 "hc cannot 8 
a step, (pneumonia ) 

Asthma, on moving his arms, not in walkii 

Attacks of suffocation, especially alter midnight : the 
patient has to sit up, to leave bit stoop, Btand 

and leaning on his hands, to open the windows, or 
into the open air, etc. ; there is beating of the heart, fol- 

(1) She is suddenly obllgi jh. but is nol aM. 
on account of her breath b< mg suddenly cnt off, which I 
suffo ca t i on ; her face is dara-red, and tumefied; the aa op ha - 
gus 1 'lv constricted bo thai nol a drop 1 

lifter the lapse of eight <»r ten minutes tl 
from the stomach, which termini U 

(2) The attacks generally last from ev< ning till early in the 
morning, through the sight 

(3) These attacks are sometimes repeated in 01 
cially when he has not taken any fresh air during tl 

(4) Especially on ascending a height. 



93 

lowed by rising from the stomach or gaping ; after this 
the spasm ceases with or without cough and expectora- 
tion. 

Beating of the heart with anxiety, especially during^ 
the night. 

Asthma ; loud, difficult, sometimes sibilant breathing. 

Shortness of breath. 

Asthma during motion, with or without cough. 

Asthma; generally coming on whilst the patient is 
seated. 

Spasmodic asthma ; her breath is cut short on going 
into the open air. 

Asthma; the attacks last for w r eeks. 

Dwindling of the mammae, or excessive enlargement 
of the mamma?, with falling-in of the teats. 

Erysipelas on one of the mammae, (especially in nurs- 

in s-) 

A hard, enlarging and indurating gland, with painful 
stitches in one of the mammae. 1 

Itching eruptions around the teats, (or moist and 
scaly.) 

Drawing, tearing, straining pains in the small of the 
back, in the back, in the back of the neck. 

Lancinating and painful stiffness in the back of the 
neck, in the small of the back. 

Aching pain between the scapulae. 

Sensation of weight upon the shoulders. 

Drawing, tearing, straining pains in the limbs, partly 
in the muscles, partly in the joints, (rheumatism.) 

Aching and drawing pains in the periosteum, here and 
there, especially in the periosteum of the long bones. 2 

Stitching pain in the fingers and toes. 3 

Stitches in the heels and soles of the feet, on standing 
up. 



(1) Have the different varieties of cancer of the breast any 
other cause but psora ? 

(*2) In the places where the pain is located, the pain is excited 
by touching them ; they feel bruised or sore. 

(3) In worse and older cases, this pain becomes lancinating. 

4* 



94 

Burning in the soles of the feet. 1 

In the joints -he feels a kind of tearing, like scraping 
upon the bones with red-hot swelling ; touching it, or the 
contact with air gives him insupportable pain ; he is 
at the same time extremely sensitive and peevish, (gout 
in the feet, hands, etc.) 2 

The joints of the fingers are swollen, aching ; touching 
or bending them gives him pain. 

Thickening of the joints ; the joints remain hard- 
swollen ; on bending them he suffers pain. 

The joints feel stiff, with painful and difficult motion ; 
the ligaments appear to be too short. 3 

Motion of the joints is painful. 4 

The joints creak on being moved. 

The joints are easily strained by being pulled or bent. 6 

Increasing susceptibility of straining a joint, even by 
a very slight muscular effort, by light mechanical la- 
bour, on stretching the arms above the head for the pur- 
pose of reaching something elevated, on lifting fij 
things, on turning the body quickly, on rolling some- 
thing, etc. This, often slight, straining or extending 
the muscles, sometimes induces the most violent dis- 
eases, swoons, hysteric complaints of all cl fe- 
vers, hemoptysis, etc., whereas a person that is not af- 



(1) Especially doling the ni<rl»t under a d. 

(*2) The i i ither in the day <>r in the nignt. 

After every attack, and when the inflammation bfl . the 

joints of the hand, the luM u the big toe, experience 

pain on motion, on standing up ; they fee] insufferably benum 

and the limb is weak. 

(3) Pot instance : tin tend.,, ^chillis on standing up, stiffness 
of the tarsus, the kn« < ft, partly momentary, (after having been 
seated, or on standing up, etc, partly permanent (contraction.) 

(1) For instance: the slioul ing the arm; 

the tarsus experiences pain on standing up, as though it would 
break. 

(5) For instance : The tarsus, the wrist-joint, the joint of the 
thumb. 

(6) Often violent pain in the crown of the head — the pain is 
also felt externally on touching the head — it comes on all on a 
sudden ; or sudden pain in the small of the back, or pain in 

N 



95 

fected with psora, is able to lift any burdens he pleases, 
without any inconvenience. 1 

The joints are easily strained or dislocated, in conse- 
quence of slipping or any sort of wrong motion.* 

In the tarsus there is a feeling of pain, as though the 
joint would break on standing up. 

Mollilies ossiuin, curvature of the spine, (hunch- 
back) curvature of the long bones in the thighs or legs, 
(rickets.) 

Fragility of the bones. 

Painful sensitiveness of the skin, of the muscles and 
of the periosteum on pressing moderately. 3 

Insufferable pain in the skin 4 (or in the muscles, or 



the womb ; sometimes stitches in the side of the chest, or be- 
tween the scapulae, that arrest breathing, or painful stiffness of 
the back of the neck or spine, frequent and loud eructations, etc, 

(1) The common people, especially in the country, try, in 
this case, to alleviate their sufferings by a few magnetic 
strokes ; it is often attended with some success, though this 
is not lasting; the disposition for straining the joint remains. 
A female, whom the Germans call " Streichefrau" makes a 
few passes with the tips of her thumbs, generally across the 
scapulae towards the axillae, or along the spine, sometimes start- 
ing from the pit of the stomach, and moving along the lower 
border of the ribs ; she generally presses too hard. 

(*2) For instance, the tarsus on stepping wrong — also, the 
shoulder-joint. Under this head belongs the gradual luxation of 
the hip-joint; the head cf the femur starts from the acetabulum, 
the leg becoming either longer or shorter, and causing limping. 

(3) Upon striking moderately against something, he feels 
a violent and long pain ; those places of the body, upon 
which he rests in bed, are excessively painful ; hence it is that 
he frequently changes his position in the night; the ischia and 
the muscles, which he compresses by sitting, are very painful; 
a slight blow with the hand upon the thigh, causes great pain, 
slight knocking against something hard, leaves behind blue spots 
or streaks of blood under the skin. 

(U) Extremely various. These pains which produce a cor- 
responding sensitiveness of the mind, are often burning, shooting, 
lancinating, often they cannot be described ; they affect espe- 
cially the upper parts of the body, the face (tic douloureux), the 
skin of the neck, etc. ; they come on on the parts being slightly 
touched, on speaking, chewing — they are excited in the shoulder 
by slight pressure or notion of the lingers. 



96 

the periosteum) of one part of the body, coming on in 
consequent ihw part 

is more remote ; the pain may come, for instana 
writing, in the axilla, or in the side of the neck, etc 
whereas sawing, and olher violent labour performed 
with that hand causes no pain ; a similar pa sited 

by any kind of motion of the mouth, speakii un- 

ple, in the neighbouring parts ; the lips and the clu 
feel pain on the slightest motion. 

Numbness of the skin or of the muscles of particular 
parts and limbs. 1 

Insensibility of particular fingers, or of the hand- 
feet. 2 

Crawling, sometimes pricking and i 
legs, and other parte in the tips of tin 

if the parti w 

Crawling or internal itchinj lally of the I 

extremities, (in the i on wall 

up in the I 
has to be clian. it. 

Painful i - in son; 

Burning pain in some par* i without ha 

changed the external lei re of ihe body. 

Coldness, either frequent pi whole 

body, or of one Bide of the 

ticular | Id hands and feetj that eann lin- 

ed in the bed during night 

Constant, chilltm there is no clian. 

the external temi 

Frequent flu pecially in tl 

frequently with s than without it; he k 

denlv. and I motion ; 



(1) Tact is wanting— How bulbs, either 

periodically or permanently, I want of sensibilif 

(•J) The limb is white, bloodless, witboi 
ten for hours, especially when the air i^> 

of zinc over the fingei 3, towards their extren 

lievos the symptoms quickly and entirely, but act 
palliative.) 




* 



97 

often already, on speaking, with or without sweat break- 
ing out. 

Warm air in the room, or in church, is extremely 
offensive to her ; makes her feel uneasy, causes her to 
move to and fro ; sometimes there is a sensation of 
weight above the eyes, which is often alleviated by 
bleeding from the nose* 

Orgasm ; also a sensation of pulsating in all the ar- 
teries ; this symptom is often accompanied by total 
paleness and a feeling of weariness through the whole 
body. 

Rush of blood to the head, 

Rush of blood to the chest. 

A arices of the veins of the lower extremities, or of 
the pudenda, also of the arms, (even in men) ; there are 
often tearing pains in the varices, (in stormy weather,) or 
itching. 1 

Erysipelas in the face, with fever ; or on the ex- 
tremities, or on the mammas of nursing mothers, espe- 
cially on a place which is sore, (with a pricking and 
burning pain.) 

Paronychia, (sore finger owing to festering skin,) 

Chilblains, (even when there is no winter,) on the 
toes and fingers ; the pain is itching and burning, lan- 
cinating. 

Corns, that cause a burning and * lancinating pain, 
even when there is no external pressure. 

Boils, (furuncles,) returning from time to time, espe- 
cially on the nates, the thighs, the upper arms and the 
neck. Touching them excites a sensation of fine prick- 
ing in the boils. 

Ulcers on the thigh, especially upon the ancles, and 
above them, on the inferior parts of the calves ; round 
the borders, there is a gnawing and itching pain ; at the 
base of the ulcers, there is a biting pain, such as is 
caused-by salt ; round about the ulcers, the flesh is co- 
loured brown and blueish ; in the neighbourhood of the 

(1) Aneurisms appear to spring from no other source than 
psora. 



98 

ulcers there are varices, with tearing pain, during stormy 
and rainy weather, especially in the night ; often ac- 
companied with erysipelas, consequent upon chagrin or 
fright, or with cramps in the calves. 

Ramollissement and suppuration of the humerus, the 
femur, the patella, also the fingers and toes (spina ven- 
tosa.) 

Thickening and stiffening of the joints* 

Eruptions, some of them being agreeably-itching pus- 
tules, separate from each other, appearing from time to 
time and passing off again, especially on the fingers or 
other parts; the pustules burn after having been scratch- 
ed, they are extremely similar to the genuine eruptions 
of the itch. 

Some forming a sort of nettle-rash, the vesicles being 
filled with water, with a burning pain ; some in the 
shape of pimples, painless, in the face, upon the chest, 
back, arms and thighs ; some of the genus herpes, the 
fine grains being set near each other, in round, more or 
less large and thick clusters of a reddish colour, partly 
dry, partly moist; there is the same itching as in the 
eruption of the itch, and the same burning pain coi: 
quent upon friction. They are surrounded with a red 
border, continue spreading, while the centre ap) 
become freed from the eruption, with a smooth, shining 
skin. (Ringworm or herpes circinatus). 

Some form elevated crusts upon the skin, round, with 
highly red borders, painless, a violent shooting pain often 
occurring in those spots upon the skin, that are not vet 
affected; some form small round sj)ots upon the skin, 
covered with bran-like, dry scabs, which often fall off 
and come on again, without sensation; some forming 
red places upon the skin, feeling dry, with a burning 
pain, raised a little upon the skin. 

Summer-freckles, spots in the face, upon the hands, 
and upon the chest, without sensation, small, round, 
brown or brownish. 

Large, brownish spots, often covering whole limbs, 
arms, neck, chest. &c. without sensation or with itching. 

Yellowness of the skin, yellow spots, homogeneous, 



99 

around the eyes, the mouth, on the neck, etc., without 
sensation. 1 

Wens in the face, on the fore-arms, hands, etc. 3 

Sarcomatous enlargements of the adipose or cellular 
tissue, or the bursse mucosae of the tendons, of various 
forms and sizes, cold, without sensation. 3 

Glandular swellings around the neck, in the groin, in 
the bends of the joints, the bend of the elbow, of the 
knee, in the axillae, 4 also in the mammae. 

Dryness of the skin, either over the whole body with- 
out being able to perspire either through motion or heat, 
or only in some parts. 5 

Disagreeable sensation of dryness over the whole 
body, also in the face, at the mouth and in the mouth, 
in the throat or in the nose, although the air passes 
freely. 

The patient sweats too easily by slight motion; he is 
even attacked with sweat over and over w r hile he is 
seated, or there is sweat only on some parts of the body, 
for instance, almost constant sweating of the hands or 
feet, 6 in the axillae, and around the genital organs. 

Sweats, early in the morning every day ; the patient 
drips with sweat, which ismells sour or pungent ; this 
symptom often lasts for years. 7 

(1) Riding in a carriage is followed by yellowness of the 
skin, in patients where the symptom is not lasting, but comes 
and goes. 

(2) Especially in youth. Many wens only exist for a short 
while, and then disappear to make room for another infirmity. 

(3) The fungus nematodes, which has lately become such a 
terrible disease, originates in psora ; I am inclined to infer this 
from some cases. 

(4) Those swellings, after having experienced shooting pains, 
pass into a state of chronic suppuration, which secretes however 
colourless mucus, instead of pus. 

(5) Especially upon the hands, the external side of the arms 
and leors, and even in the face ; the skin is dry, rough, parching, 
feels chopped, often scaly like bran. 

(6) This sweat is generally very foetid, and so abundant, that 
soles, heels and toes are already soaked, and feel sore, after very 
little walking. 

(7) The sweating of psoric children about the head, in the 
evening after falling asleep, comes under this observation. 



100 

eat only on one side of the body* or only on the 
Upper half of the body, or only on the lower extremi- 
ties 

Increasing susceptibility for cold, cither of the whole 
body (wetting the hand? with warm and then with cold 
water, as is done in washing, sometimes induces a cold), 
or of particular parts, head, neck, breast, abdomen, f« 
etc in a slight draught, or after slight moistening of the 
parts j 1 even already in a cool room, or when the air is 
moist with rain, or the barometer low. 

The pains which have been fori > <1 in 

parts injured, wounded, broken, although they arc now 
cured and cicatrized, heron ry acute at the 

approach of an important chi her, intei 

cold, storm, atmosphere pregnant with electricit] 

(Edematous swelling o( the feet, or of one foot, of the 
hands or face, c. (ana- 

sarca* 

Attacks of sudden heaviness in the arms or legs. 

Attacks of paralytic ss, paralytii 

one arm, one hand. . without pain, either su<; 

and temporary, or beginning imperceptibly and e 
tinuing pi 

Sudden bending of the km- 

Children fall without milar 

attacks of w 1 in full- 

>wn persons; in wall. glides this w 

the other that w. 

During .'i walk in th as sudden at] 

of weakness especially in th< 

(1) This susceptibility <1 with many imp 
consequences which mal^e their appearance immediately. P 
in the joints, headaches, sold in the ,| Inflam* 
mation of tin- throat, catarrh, swelling of th< I glands 
hoan cough, oppressed bi In the el 
fever, dyspeptic complaints, colic, vomiting, diarrhesa, pain in 
Btomach, rising of water from the stomach, sonu ituI- 
sionsin the face and other parts ofthebody, jaundi lour 
of the skin, etc. Nd one, who is not psonc, suffen si in- 
convenience from Buch c 

(2) Sometimes this feeling of a h tin 



101 

While sitting the person feels insufferably tired ; 
walking diminishes this feeling. 

The joints are easily strained by wrong seizing or 
stepping ; this often increases to dislocation ; for exam- 
ple in the tarsus, the shoulder-joint, etc. 

The creaking of the joints increases by slight motion ; 
it is accompanied with a disagreeable sensation, 

The limbs feel easily benumbed ; this numbness is 
induced by slight causes, for example, leaning the head 
upon the arm, crossing the legs while sitting, etc. 

The cramps in some muscles increase ; this symptom 
comes on by slight causes. 

Slow, cramp-like straining of the flexor muscles of 
the extremities. 

Sudden twitches in some muscles and organs even in 
waking ; for example, in the tongue, the lips, the 
muscles of the face, of the pharynx, the eyes, the jaws, 
hands and feet. 

Tonic shortening of the flexor muscles (spasms.) 

Involuntary turning and twisting of the head or the 
extremities with full consciousness (St. Vitus dance.) 

Sudden attacks of fainting and sinking of strength 
with loss of consciousness. 

Attacks of tremor in the limbs, without anxiety. 
Long continued tremor, sometimes striking with the 
hands, arms, and legs. 

Attacks of loss of consciousness, lasting for a mo- 
ment or a minute ; during these attacks, the head is 
inclined upon the shoulder to one side, and in one or 
the other parts of the body, there is a jerking motion, 
sometimes not. 

Different kinds of epilepsy. 

Constant gaping, stretching and straining of the limbs. 

Drowsiness during the dav, often immediately after 
sitting down, especially after a meal. 



pit of the stomach ; here it assumes the form of a sort of rabid 
hunger, which deprives him of all his strength; he is attacked with 
tremor, and is obliged to lie down for a while. 



102 

He finds it difficult to fall asleep in the evening on 
lying down ; he often lies awake for hours. 

He spends the night in a sort of slumber. 

Anxiety prevents him from sleeping, every night ; 
this anxiety often is so violent that he has to leave his 
bed, and to walk about the room. 

He is deprived of sleep, at any rate ot sound sleep, 
from three o'clock in the morning. 

On closing the eyes, he sees all sorts of fanciful ima- 
ges, grimaces. 

On falling asleep she is disturbed by all sorts of 
fancies ; she has to rise and walk about. 

Vivid dreams as if in a state of waking ; sad, fright- 
ful, anxious, vexatious, libidinous dreams. 

Speaking or screaming during sleep. 

Somnambulism ; in the night he rises with his - 
shut ; he does all sorts of things, even dangerous ibil 
with ease, without knowing anything about it on waking 

U P' 

Suffocating fits during sleep, (night-mare.) 

All sorts of troublesome pains in the night ; thirst, 

dryness of the throat, mouth, frequent urinating* 

On waking up early in the morning, he feels drowsy, 
unrefreshed, more tired than he did in the evening 

before, on lying down ; after rising, it takes hours before 
he recovers from this weariness. 

After having spent an uneasy night, he often feels 
stronger, than after an easy, sound s! 

Intermittent fever, even when this disease is neither 
sporadic, nor epidemic, 1 nor endemic; the forms, dura- 
tion, and type of the fever may be different ; quotidian, 
tertian, quartan, quintan, or the fever may appear every 
seven days. 

Every evening there arc chills with blue nails. 

Single chills every evening. 



(I) It may be asserted that epidemic intermittents never at- 
tack people free from psora ; wherever these attacks take p] 
it may be supposed that there is a disposition for them, originat- 
VOg hi psora. 



103 

Every evening the patient experiences heat with rush 
of blood to the head, red cheeks, often alternating with 
chills. 

Intermittent fever of some weeks duration ; this is 
followed by a moist, itching eruption which lasts for 
some weeks, and disappears as soon as the fever sets 
in again ; this alternation may continue for years. 

All sorts of moral and mental disturbances* 1 

Melancholy, either alone or united with alienation, 
sometimes alternating with frenzy and moments of ra- 
tionality. 

Oppressive anxiety early on waking up. 

Oppressive anxiety in the evening on lying down. 3 

Repeated attacks of fearfulness during the day (with 
or without pain), or at certain hours of the day or night ; 
during these attacks the patient has no rest, is obliged 
to move this way and that way ; sometimes sweat 
breaks out. 

Melancholy, beating of the heart and anxiety woke 
her up in the night (mostly immediately before the ap- 
pearance of the menses.) 

Mania of self-destruction ; 3 (spleen ?) 

(1) Neither in my practice, nor in a lunatic asylum have 1 
ever met with a patient attacked with melancholy, madness or 
frenzy, in whom these diseases were not based upon psora, 
sometimes complicated with syphilis. 

(2) In some patients these anxieties cause a violent perspira- 
tion to break out ; others experience only orgasm and pulsations 
in all the arteries ; in others again this anxiety causes a feeling 
of constriction in the throat, as if they were suffocating ; others 
feel as though their blood ceased to flow, which causes the anxiety. 
In some the anxiety is accompanied with fear, exciting images 
and thoughts which seem to cause the anxiety ; in others the. 
anxie- without them. 

(3) This kind of mental or moral disease which originates in 
psora, does not seem to have been sufficiently attended to. A 
certain feeling of necessity induces those patients to kill them- 
selves, although thev have no anxiety, no anxious thoughts, and 
seem to enjoy their full understanding. Nothing can save them 
BXeept the cure, of their psora, provided its manifestations aro 
noticed in time* I say " in time" for in the last stages of the 
malady, these monomaniacs never speak to any one of t 



104 

Whining mood; they often weep for hours, without 
knowing the cause of it. ' 

Attacks of fear, for example : of fire, of being alone, 
of apoplexy, of mental alienation, etc 

Attacks of a species of angriness, which looks like 
insanity. 

He is easily frightened, often by the most trifling oc- 
currence ; this causes the patient to sweat and to trem- 
ble. 

Dread of labour, in personswho are otherwise extreme- 
ly active ; they have a decided repugnance to labour. 

Excessive sensitiveness. ) 3 

Irritability from weakness. \ 



fixed resolutions. This mania mam If in fits of half 

or full hours, at last daily, often al certain periods doling the 
day. These persons howerer, beside these attacks of the mania 
of self-destruction, sometimes bave attacks of anxiety which eome 
at different periods and d< with the 

attacks of mania. Ti illy ac- 

companied with an oppi the pit ofth< , but they 

are free from the desire which tb< tfl otherwise expert 

of destroying themselves. T1m axiety which ap- 

pear to be of a physical nature and are not attended with pe- 
culiarly anxious thoughts, may be wanting whilst the attack 
the mania exist in a high -degree ; or ti. turn 

more frequently, when tin 1 mania bad been almost cured 
by anti-psoric remedies. Thus, both all, ppear to 

be independent of each other, although they originate in 
same cause. 

(1) This symptom is especially frequent in the female - 
and appears to be intended by nature to ward off lor I tim< •. 
more important nervous affections. 

(2) A female was attacked with anxiety wheii si >out 
attending to some part of her domestic -.ill irs; her limbs trem- 
bled and she became bo feint, that bd diged to lie down. 

(3) All physical and moral impn - r so 
weak, excite an excessive morbid sensitiveness. Emotions of 
both a sad and vexatious and a cheerful nature, often I 
tonishinor complaints and Buffering. Touching t; d the 
recollection thereof, excite the nerves, drive the anxiety to 
head, etc. Reading indifferent things, attentive ! I one 
object, for example : In sowing; attentive listening to indiffer- 
ent things, strong light, loud talking of several men together, 
even a few sounds upon a musical instrument, ringing, eta*, are 



105 

Sudden change of humour; often the patient is very 
gay and even extremely so, and then suddenly low-spi- 
rited, for instance : on account of his disease, or some- 
thing of no importance. 

Sudden transition from cheerfulness to sadness, or 
peevishness without any apparent cause. 

These are some of the principal symptoms of latent 
psora which I have had occasion to observe. Their 
frequent occurrence, or their continuance, show that 
the latent psora is becoming active in the system. They 
are at the same time the elements which constitute the 
innumerable secondary complaints arising from the 
psoric reaction in persons unfavourably situated, and as- 
suming all sorts of forms in proportion as a person's 
constitution, education, habits, occupation, external 
circumstances and the physical or moral impressions to 
which he is subject, differ. The number of those se- 
condary ailments, which are described as distinct and 
independent diseases in the older pathological works.* 
far exceeds the morbid symptoms which we find enu- 
merated in these works. 



attended with disagreeable consequences ; trembling, fainting, 
headache, chills, etc. Smell and taste are often excessively 
sensitive. In many cases, moderate exercise, talking, moder- 
ate warmth, coldness, open air, moistening the skin with water, 
etc. are injurious. Many are affected even in their rooms from 
the sudden changes of the weather ; most of these patients com- 
plain in stormy and damp weather, few only when the sky is 
dry and bright. In some, the full moon, in others, the new moon 
make an unfavourable impression. 

* Those secondary ailments bear the following names : scro- 
fula, rickets, spina ventosa, atrophy, marasmus, consumption, pul- 
monary consumption, asthma, tabes mucosa, laryngeal phthisis, 
chronic catarrh, constant cold in the head, difficult dentition, 
worms, and consequent diseases, dyspepsia, spasms in the abdo- 
men, hypochondria, hysteria, anasarca, dropsy, ovarian dropsy, 
dropsy of the uterus, hydrocele, hydrocephalus, amenorrhcea and 
dismenorrhcea, hemorrhage from the uterus, hematemesis, hemop- 
tysis, hemorrhages, discharges from the vagina, dysuria, ischuria, 
enuresis, diabetes, catarrh of the bladder, hematuria, stricture of 
the urethra, nephralgia, gravel, stricture of the intestines, blind 
and flowing hemorrhoids, fistula in ano, difficult stools, constipa 



106 



Those ailments are the characteristic secondary 
symptoms* of the psoric miasm, which manifests itself 
by these symptoms as a hydra-headed monster pregnant 
with disease.t 



tion, chronic diarrhoea, induration of the liver, jaundice, blue dis- 
ease, disease of the heart, beating of the heart, spasms of the 
chest, dropsy of the chest, miscarriage, sterility, metromania, im- 
potence, induration of the testes, dwindling of the testes, prolapsus 
uteri, inversion of the womb, inguinal, femoral and umbilical her- 
nia, dislocations from some internal cause, curvature of the spine, 
chronic inflammation of the eyes, fistula lachrymalis, short and 
long-sightedness, day and night-blindness; obscuration of the cor- 
nea, cataract, glaucoma, amaurosis, deafness, deficient smell or 
taste, chronic head-ache on one side, pain in the face, tinea capitis, 
scabs, crusta lactea, herpes, pimples, nettle-rash, lypoma, goitre, 
varix, aneurisms, erysipelas, adipose sarcoma, osteo-sarcoina, 
scirrhus, cancer of the lips, cheeks, breast and womb ; fungus ne- 
matodes, rheumatism, gout in the hips, in the joints and t 
apoplectic fits, spasms, convul- i 

contractions, epilepsy, St. Vitus' dunce, melancholy, insanity, 
imbecility, nervous affections, etc. 

* Councillor Kopp, an allceopathic physician who is appr 
ing to Homoeopathy, pretends baying seen chronic di8( 
appear of themselves ; he may have seen a u w symptoms dis- 
appear, which the old school is so foolish as to consider com- 
plete diseases. 

f I admit that my doctrine : " All non-venereal chronic dises 
that can neither be cured by regular diet nor favourable circum- 
stances, which on the contrary, increase in the course of time, 
originate in psora" is too comprehensive and even overwhelm- 
ing for all who have not maturely reflected upon my argunn 
or for narrow intellects. But my doctrine is not the less true. 
But because the patient is not able to recollect having had a few 
itch-vesicles between the time of his birth and the present mo- 
ment, or because he is ashamed of eonfi ssing haying had the 
itch on account of its being considered a shameful disease, is 
this a reason why such a chronic disease should not be consid- 
ered psoric 1 The non-confessing of the patient proves nothing 
to the contrary. 

As long therefore as the opponents of my doctrine cannot show 
that the chronic affections which I have alluded to in the prece- 
ding paragraphs, and which mere diet, were it ever so regular, a 
strong constitution and favourable external circumstances are 
not sufficient to eradicate from the system, can originate in some 
other than the psoric miasm, which maintains, strengthens and 
develops them ; there is an overwhelming probability based op- 



107 

on analogy, that all other complaints which are similar to the 
preceding, both in nature and development, originate in psora, 
although the patient may not be aware of having ever been in- 
fected with the itch. 

It is an easy matter to doubt things which are not before us 
in visible forms ; but this proves nothing ; according to the old 
rule, proving is the business of those who deny, " negantis est 
probare" 

The antipsorics are therefore not necessary to prove the 
chronic nature of those maladies in case the infection by the itch- 
virus should be denied ; the salutary action of the antipsorics 
only serves in the same sense as the counter-proof of an accu- 
rately-solved arithmetical problem. 

Since it is proved that other medicines, even when chosen 
strictly homoeopathically, do not heal the above mentioned chro- 
nic diseases as thoroughly and permanently as the so-called an- 
tipsorics, because the latter cover the whole extent of the pro- 
gressively appearing symptoms of the psoric disturbance : — I 
do not see why these should not be called antipsorics in prefer- 
ence to all other remedies. 

I sometimes consider certain acute diseases, such as inflamma- 
tion of the throat, of the chest, etc., results of an excited psora. 
This, too, cannot be denied, as it is done, under the pretence, that 
those inflammations maybe controlled by the antiphlogistic reme- 
dies, aconite, belladonna, mercury, etc. The proof that they ori- 
ginate in latent psora, is this, that their frequent return can only 
be prevented by the antipsorics. 



TREATMENT OF CHRONIC DISEASES, 



I shall now pass to the treatment of chronic diseases, 
the number of which is almost without end. Although I 
do not pretend to say that the fact of all chronic diseases 
having been traced by me to a three-fold origin, has made 
the treatment of those diseases an easy matter ; yet I 
may say that the discovery of the remedies which are 
homoeopathically adapted to those different classes of dis- 
eases, has secured the possibility of their successful treat- 
ment. Without a knowledge of that three-fold origin and 
these homoeopathic remedies, the successful treatment of 
chronic diseases is absolutely impossil 

I shall first speak of those miasmatic chronic diseases 
which we designate by the terms Syphilis and Sycosis, in- 
cluding all their various ramifications* This will leave us 
free to treat at length of that immense host of chronic 
affections which originate in the most fearful, most com- 
mon and most inveterate of all chronic miasms, Psora* 



SYCOSIS. 



The chronic miasm which we designate by the term 
Sycosis, has only prevailed from time to time, and has 
given origin to the smallest number of chronic diseases. 
Sycosis was especially spread in Germany between the 
years 1809 and 1814, during the war with France ; 
ever since then the disease has been decreasing. 

Sycosis, being supposed to be homogeneous with 
syphilis, has been heretofore treated with mercury inter- 
nally, and externally by cauterization, burning, cutting, or 
ligatures. This violent external treatment has been em- 
ployed against the excrescences upon the genital organs. 
The excrescences first appear upon those parts of the 
body several days and often weeks, after the infection by 
the act of coition has taken place. They are accompanied 
with a sort of gonorrhoea* from the urethra, are some- 
times dry and in the form of warts, but more frequently 
soft, spongy, emitting a fetid fluid, sui generis, of a 
sweetish taste, (almost resembling that of herring-pickle,) 
bleeding readily and having the form of a cox-comb or a 
cauli-flower (brassica botrytes.) In man they appear 
upon the glans and around or beneath the prepuce ; in 
woman they cover the parts surrounding the pudenda, 
and the pudenda themselves, in great abundance. 



* In this kind of gonorrhoea the fluid which comes out of 
the urethra, looks like thick pus ; micturition is not very 
painful, but the penis feels hard and swollen ; upon its back 
it is sometimes covered with glandular tubercles, and it is 
very painfulto the touch. 



112 

The natural and immediate consequence of such vio- 
lent treatment was, that the excrescences generally came 
out again, and were again subjected to painful and cruel 
treatment. In case, however, they did not re-appear in 
their original form, they broke forth in the shape of more 
disagreeable and more dangerous secondary ailments ; 
for neither the violent removal of the external embodi- 
ment or vicarious symptom of sycosis, nor the internal 
administration of mercury, which is not homogeneous to 
the miasm of sycosis, had the least influence in dimin- 
ishing the intensity of this miasm and preventing it from 
affecting the whole organism. Beside the general health 
being undermined by the mercury which, in the case of 
sycosis, was generally given in the largest doses and the 
most active preparations, there are other pernicious re- 
sults consequent upon this abuse of mercury. There 
are excrescences formed in other parts of the body either 
in the shape of whitish, spongy, painful and Hat eleva- 
tions in the cavity of the mouth, upon the tongue, the 
palate, the lips ; or in the shape of large, elevated, 
brown, dry tubercles in the axilla, upon the neck, upon 
the hairy scalp, etc. The abuse of mercury may also 
be followed by other bodily affections, such as the con- 
traction of the tendons of the flexor muscles, especially 
those of the fingers, etc. 

Both the gonorrhoea* and the excrescences of sycosis 
are cured in the most thorough and durable manner by 

* The miasm of the common clap seems to affect the 
urinary organs only locally ; it docs not pervade the whole 
organism. The common gonorrhoea either yields to a drop 
of the recently obtained juice of parsley, provided its u> 
indicated by a frequent desire to urinate ; or else to a small 
dose of cannabis, cantharides, or copaiva, according as the 
other symptoms indicate the use of these different remedi 
The highest preparations of these remedies should alw 
be used, unless the patient has previously been weakened 
by alloeopathic stimulants, or a latent psora has made its 
appearance ; in this case a secondary gonorrhoea is frequent- 
ly formed, which can only be cured by antipsorics. 



113 

the internal administration of a few globules of the decil- 
lion preparation of thuya,* which ought to be allowed to 
act for the space of fifteen, twenty, thirty, or forty days. 
After this lapse of time you give an equally small dose 
of nitric acid, letting it act during an equally long period. 
These two remedies are sufficient to cure both the go- 
norrhoea and the excrescences of sycosis. In the most 
inveterate and most difficult cases, the larger excrescen- 
ces may be touched once a day with the fresh juice of 
thuya half diluted with alcohol and squeezed out of the 
green leaves of the plant. 

It sometimes happens that, in consequence of the 
violent alloeopathic treatment of sycosis, other chronic 
affections may have been formed in the system, that, for 
instance, a latent psora may have become manifest,* 
and that the psoric and the syphilitic miasm may form 
a trinitary compound of disease, which will take place 
if the latter miasm should have been badly treated on a 
former occasion. In this case, the order of treatment is 
the following : First, we annihilate the psoric miasm by 
the subsequently indicated antipsorics ; then we use the 
remedies indicated for sycosis, and lastly, the best mer- 

* Thuya is homceopathic to sycosis ; see Materia Medica 
Pura, p. V. If other doses of thuya should be required, the 
inferior potencies may then be used, (VIIL, VI., IV., IT. ;) 
these will then be found to affect the vital principle more ef- 
ficiently.")" 



f Note of the translator. — In my inaugural thesis pub- 
lished by Mr. Radde, and also in the preface to this translation, 
I have conclusively shown that the remedial agent makes no 
direct impression upon the vital principle, but that the impres- 
sion is made upon the disease, and that, by means of this im- 
pression, the vital principle is freed from its embarrassed condi- 
tion. 

J In young people, recent sycosis is seldom found 
complicated with psora. Wherever this complication exists, 
it is owing to the pernicious assaults which have been 
made upon the constitution by the improper administration 
of mercury for the cure of sycosis. 



114 

curial preparation against syphilis. These different or- 
ders of remedies are alternately employed, if necessary, 
until the cure is completed. Leave to each medicine 
the necessary time to complete its action. 

In treating sycosis internally, according to my rule, 
no external remedies should be used, except the juice of 
the thuya in the cases indicated above. If there should 
be a watery discharge from the excrescenses, dry clean 
lint may be applied. 



SYPHILIS 



The syphilitic miasm is much more general than the 
miasm of sycosis. For the last four centuries, it has 
given origin to a vast number of chronic affections. 

The treatment of syphilis is only difficult when there 
is a complication with the psoric miasm, after it has 
broke forth from its latent condition. Sometimes, but 
rarely, syphilis is complicated with sycosis ; whenever 
this complication exists, it never exists without the ad- 
ditional complication of psora. 

In the treatment of syphilis, three different conditions 
may occur. First, the syphilitic disease may exist in 
its genuine form, together with the chancre, or, in case 
the chancre should have been removed by external appli- 
cations, it may exist with the bubo, which must then be 
considered as the representative of the chancre;* se- 
condly, it may exist without being complicated with an- 
other miasm, though both the chancre and the bubo 
may have been removed ; and thirdly, it mav exist in 
a state of complication with another chronic miasm, 
either with the chancre or bubo, or after their removal 
by local applications. 

The chancre generally appears between the seventh 
and fourteenth day after the infection has taken place ; 



* In rare cases, the bubo is the first and immediate re- 
sult of an impure coition, without any previous chancre ; 
generally, however, it is consequent upon the removal of 
the chancre by local applications, and is, in this case, a 
troublesome representative of the latter. 



116 

it rarely appears either sooner or later, and generally af- 
fects the parts which have been first tainted with the 
virus. The chancre first appears in the form of a little 
vesicle, which is soon changed to a painfully stinging 
ulcer, with an elevated border. This ulcer may remain 
upon the same spot during the life-time of the patient, 
and, although it may become enlarged, yet the secondary 
symptoms of syphilis will never make their appearance 
as long as the chancre remains. 

The alloeopathic physician, not knowing that the en- 
tire organism has become infected with the syphilitic 
miasm, even before the appearance of the chancre and 
immediately after the impure coition has been accom- 
plished, looks upon the chancre as a simply local ulcer 
which ought to be removed by the external applica- 
tion of desiccating and cauterizing substances, and 
which will remain quite harmless, provided it is not left too 
long on the skin ; for, in this case, the absorbing ves- 
sels might carry the poison into the internal organism, 
and, in this way, produce a general syphilitic affection, 
whereas these evil consequences might be avoided by 
a speedy removal of the chancre. This is both the 
doctrine and the practice. By this practice, the physi- 
cian deprives the internal disease of its vicarious symp- 
tom, the chancre ; and, by the removal of the chancre, 
he forces the disease to embody itself externally in the 
more troublesome and speedily suppurating bubo. And 
after this too has been removed, as is foolishly done, by 
external treatment, the disease is forced to manifest itself 
throughout the organism with all the secondary symp- 
toms of a fully developed syphilis. This unavoidable 
development of the internal syphilitic disease generally 
takes place after the lapse of two or three months. So 
far from relieving the patient, the physician positively 
injures him. 

John Hunter asserts :* u Not one patient in fifteen 
will escape syphilis, when the chancre is removed 

* Treatise on the Venereal Diseases, Leipsic, 1787, p. 
531. 



117 

merely by local treatment ;" and in another part of his 
work,* he assures us : " that the local removal of the 
chancre, should it even have been accomplished ever so 
speedily, was always followed by an outbreak of the in- 
ternal syphilitic disease." 

The same doctrine is emphatically taught by Fabre,t 
who says " that the local removal of the chancre is al- 
ways followed by syphilis ; that Petit had cut off a por- 
tion of the labia of the genital organs of a woman, which 
had been affected, for some days, with venereal chancre ; 
that the wound indeed healed, but that the syphilitic 
disease nevertheless broke out. 

It is incredible that physicians, in spite of the expe- 
rience and emphatic statements of such great observers, 
should have shut their eyes to the fact : that the venereal 
disease existed already in its fulness in the organism 
before the chancre had made its appearance, and that it 
was an unpardonable mistake to remove the chancre by 
external applications, and to consider this local removal 
of the chancre a complete cure of the disease. On 
the contrary, by this local removal of the chancre, the 
syphilitic disease was not only forced to ramify into its 
secondary symptoms, but the physician deprived him- 
self of a sure and infallible indication of the thorough 
and permanent cure of the internal disease. As long as 
the chancre existed, the organism was yet tainted with 
the syphilitic virus ; whereas, the disappearance of the 
chancre consequent upon the internal administration of 
appropriate remedies, was a sure sign of the internal dis- 
ease having been completely and permanently cured. 

In my practice of fifty years' duration, I have never 
seen syphilis breaking out in the system, whenever the 
chancre was cured by internal remedies, without having 
been mismanaged by external treatment ; it mattered 
not whether the chancre had been left standing for 



* The same work, p. 551 — 553. 

f Fabre, Lettres, Supplement a Son Traite des Maladies 
Venerienncs, Paris, 1786. 



118 

years, increasing all the while, as every vicarious symp- 
tom of any other chronic miasm will do, for the simple 
reason that the internal disease is progressing all the 
time, and induces a consequent development of the ex- 
ternal symptom. 

As soon as the chancre is removed by external reme- 
dies, the syphilitic disease, which is engrafted upon the 
whole organism as soon as the infection has taken place, 
manifests its series of secondary symptoms. 

As soon as the syphilitic miasm has taken effect, it 
ceases to be circumscribed by the spot where the infec- 
tion first took place ; the whole nervous system is at 
once tainted with it ;*' the miasm has, so to say, become 
the property of the whole organism. Washing and 
wiping the parts, with whatever liquid it may be, is fruit- 
less ; even exsecting the part is of no avail. During 
the first days, the infected spot does not show any mor- 
bid symptoms ; but the internal organism, from the first 
moment of the infection, is being adapted to the action 
of the recently introduced miasm. When the syphilitic 
disease has been completely developed in the system by 
means of this progressive adaptation, then it is, that na- 
ture produces the chancre upon the primitively infected 
spot with a view, as it were, of hushing the internal af- 
fection. 

Hence it is that the internal disease is most effi- 
ciently and most permanentlv eured while the chancre 
or the bubo are yet existing as its vicarious tvpe<. ( H 
this genuine and unadulterated syphilis it may be said, 
that there is no chronic miasm, nor a du 
by a chronic miasm, which is more easily cured than 
sypliilis. 

In that stage of the syphilitic \ where the chan- 

cre or the bubo arc yet existing, one single minute d 
of the best mercurial preparation is i ct a 



* Note of the translator : Hahnemann expi 
this result thus : 4; The whole living body has j.< ra if* d the 
presence of the poison." 



119 

permanent cure of the internal disease, together with 
the chancre, in the space of a fortnight. Of course, 
such a cure can only be effected when the syphilitic dis- 
ease is not complicated by some psoric affection ; it is 
especially in young persons of a cheerful temper that 
a speedy cure may be anticipated ; psora being in a la- 
tent condition in such persons, neither syphilis nor syco- 
sis can become adulterated by that miasm. A few 
days after the medicine has been taken, and without the 
use of any external application, the chancre is changed 
to a pure ulcer with a little quantity of laudable pus, 
which heals of itself without leaving the slightest cica- 
trix, or even a spot, the colour of which is different from 
that of the sound skin. This is a convincing proof 
that the internal disease has been completely annihi- 
lated. Inasmuch as the chancre is the external indica- 
tion of the internal disease, this disease cannot be con- 
sidered cured as long as the internal remedy has not 
acted sufficiently to remove even the slightest trace of 
chancre from the skin. 

Already in the second edition of the Materia Medica 
Pura, Dresden, 1822, have I indicated the mode of ob- 
taining the best mercurial preparation. Even at this 
moment I consider such a preparation the best anti- 
syphilitic remedy, although it is difficult to obtain it per- 
fect. In order to obtain it as perfect as possible, and 
with the least trouble, (for the greatest simplicity should 
be observed in preparing homoeopathic remedies,) it is 
better to follow the method which I shall indicate be- 
low. Take a gram of the purest liquid quicksilver, and 
triturate it for three hours with three hundred grains of 
sugar of milk, taking one hundred grains at a time and 
triturating them for an hour. In this way you obtain 
the million degree of the trituration. Of this trituration 
you dissolve one £rain in alcohol, continuing the pro- 
cess of dissolving through twenty-seven phials up to the 
decillion decree. (See the end of this volume, where 
the mode of preparing the different degrees of homoeo- 
pathic medicines is more fully described. 

Formerly I was in the habit of using successfully, 



120 

one, two, or three globules of the billion degree, for the 
cure of syphilis. The higher degrees, however, even 
the decillion degree, act more speedily, more thorough- 
ly, and more mildly. If more than one dose should be 
required, which is seldom the case, the lower degrees 
may then be employed. 

In the same way as the chancre or the bubo gave 
incontrovertible evidence of the internal disease, the 
disappearance of the chancre consequent upon the in- 
ternal use of the best mercurial preparation, without, 
however, the concomitant use of any external application, 
is an infallible indication of the internal disease having 
been completely and radically cured. 

But on the other hand, this correspondence between 
the internal disease and its vicarious symptom sh< 
that the mere external removal of the chancre, inasmuch 
as it does not result from the cure of the internal dis- 
ease, leaves the deluded patient just as syphilitic after 
the removal of the chancre as he was before. 

The second stage of the disease is that rare stage, 
in which the chancre has been speedily, though foolish- 
ly, removed from the skin by external applications with- 
out the organism having been much disturbed by either 
internal or external violent remedies. Such a compara- 
tively easy removal can only take place in persons that 
are not affected with a difficult chronic disease, in whom 
psoi'a is consequently in its latent condition. Even in 
this stage, the disease, provided it is not complicated 
with psoric affections, may be easily cured, and the 
secondary symptoms of syphilis may be prevented by 
the internal administration of the above described mer- 
curial preparation ; although the violent removal of the 
chancre by external remedies makes it more difficult to 
be certain of the cure of the internal disease, than if 
the chancre had first been transformed to a benign ulcer 
and had then disappeared of itself, in consequence of 
the internal disease having been cured by internal 
remedies. 

However, even in the presence of these disadvanta- 
ges, the attentive observer may discover a sign which 



121 

will tell him whether the internal disease is or is not 
completely cured. For, in case the chancre should 
have been removed by external, though mild remedies, 
and the internal disease should not, therefore, have been 
completely cured, the original spot upon which the chan- 
cre had been developed, will exhibit a reddish morbid- 
looking, red, or blueish scar ; whereas, if the chancre 
have been removed by the internal remedy and be no 
longer necessary as the vicarious embodiment of the 
internal disease, the original spot of the chancre can no 
more be traced, on account of that spot being covered 
by as healthy-coloured a skin as the rest of the body. 

If the homoeopathic physician has discovered that 
blueish spot, and by this discovery has become convin- 
ced that the internal disease is not yet cured, the patient, 
provided he is perfectly free from all secondary symp- 
toms of psora, may be perfectly cured by one single 
dose of the above described mercurial preparation ; and, 
as a proof that the cure is perfect, the blueish scar will 
completely disappear, and the skin at that spot assume 
the same healthy appearance as the rest of the body. 

Even in case the bubo should have already made its 
appearance, the patient may yet be completely cured by 
one dose of the above mentioned mercurial preparation, 
provided the syphilitic disease is not yet complicated 
with psora, and the bubo has not yet passed into the 
suppurative stage. Generally, however, syphilis, in 
this condition, is complicated with psora. The indica- 
tion of the cure being completed is the same as above. 

Neither in this latter, nor in the former case, an out- 
break of syphilis needs to be apprehended, provided the 
treatment has been rightly conducted. 

We have now to treat of the third stage of the disease 
in which the syphilitic disease is found complicated with 
psora. If this complication occur, the psoric miasm is 
not in the way of a thorough cure of the syphilitic dis- 
ease, but it is impossible to effect the cure of the syphi- 
litic disease, complicated with psora, by one remedy only. 

This complication may take place in two ways. The 
patient may either have been already affected with a 



122 

psoric disease at the time when the syphilitic infection 
took place ; or else, the psora which existed in the organ- 
ism at the time when the syphilitic infection took place, 
may have been called out by the violent drugs and pain- 
ful external remedies of the alloeopathic physician, the 
effect of which was to remove the external symptom 
of syphilis after protracted efforts, to undermine the 
general health of the patient, and to force the psoric and 
the syphilitic miasms into a combination with each other. 
Such a combination can only take place between syphi- 
lis and psora in a state of manifest developm 

These are the reasons why psora is so often found 
complicated with syphilis. The poor patient is often 
assailed for months with mercurial frictions, large doses 
of calomel, corrosive sublimate, and other violent n 
curial preparations, inducing feycr, dyi 
ending and iting salivation, pains in tli 

sleeples- ;<\ Hut all these violent remedies not 

only leave the syphilitic miasm uncured, but, in combi- 
nation with the intermediate use of weakening warm 
baths and purgatives, tl < the latent psora much 

before the time when a cure of the syphilitic 
could be effected by means of such an imp 
ment, and, in thifl psoric and the syphilitic 

miasms to combine. 

It may here be observed that it is the nature of the 
psoric miasms to break forth in conscque: 
concussions of the system, and violent inroai the 

general health. 

By this combination of syphilis and psora a sort of 
spurious i formed, which the English 

physicians designate by ihe tern, < />. This 

18 a sort of monstrous double-di- which no ph\ 



* It i< even more than a dotlMe-di 

frequently repeated doses of the violent mercurial pn 

rations have added their inherent medicinal disease, which, 

together with the exhaustion consequent upon such treat- 
ment, reduces the patient to a truly sad plight. In such 



123 

cian has been hitherto able to cure, because no physician 
has, up to this moment, known the extent and nature 
either of latent or developed psora, and has much less 
suspected its combination with syphilis. No one was 
therefore able to remove the psoric action which was the 
only cause of that pseudo-syphilis ; no one was able to 
cure the syphilitic disease by freeing it from its horrible 
combination with pso?~a ; and, on the other hand, the 
psoric miasm withstood every attempt at cure, because 
it cannot be cured unless syphilis is cured at the same 
time. 

In order to reach, with the greatest possible success, 
this so-called masked syphilis, the first thing which the 
physician has to do, is to remove from the patient all 
hurtful external influences, to put him upon an easily 
and vigorously nourishing diet, and to regulate his 
general mode of life to his greatest advantage. After 
this has been accomplished, the physician administers 
the most appropriate antipsoric, in the mode which will 
be indicated hereafter ; this may be followed by a second 
antipsoric to be chosen agreeably to the new symptoms ; 
and when this last remedy has completed its action, a 
dose of the anti-syphilitic mercury may be exhibited, 
being permitted to act three, five, or seven w T eeks, as 
long as it is capable of exercising a curative influence. 

In old difficult cases this course is not sufficient to 
effect a cure. There may remain ailments which are 
neither purely psoric or syphilitic and therefore require 
the last assistance of the physician. A similar treat- 
ment is here to be repeated. First we exhibit one or 
more anti-psorics, in proportion as they are indicated by 
the symptoms, until the last trace of all psoric action has 
vanished. After this we repeat the mercury, using an 
inferior potency, and allowing it to act until not only 
the manifest syphilitic symptoms have vanished, but, in- 
asmuch as this disappearance of these syphilitic symp- 
toms, whose nature is so extremely changeable, is no 



cases hepar sulphuris mav be given in preference to 
sulphur, on account of its anti-psoric virtue. 



pure 



124 

positive proof of their radical cure, we allow the mercury 
to act until the skin has recovered its healthy colour at the 
spot upon which the venereal chancre had been develop- 
ed, and afterwards removed by cauteries. Manifest sy- 
philitic symptoms may be considered the following : ul- 
cers of the tonsils with lancinating pain, round copper- 
coloured spots shining through the skin, non-itching pus- 
tules, especially in the face, set upon blueish-reddish bot- 
tom ; cutaneous ulcers on the hairy scalp, and upon the 
skin of the penis, smooth, pale, clean, covered with noth- 
ing but mucus, and on a level with the sound skin ; bor- 
ing nightly pains in the nodes, etc. 

In my practice I have only seen two cases* of a com- 
plication of the three chronic miasms, sycosis, syphilis, 
and psora. 

This complication I treated according to the princi- 
ples laid down above. First, I directed my reme- 
dies against the psoric miasm ; and then against the 
other two miasms, beginning with the one whose symp- 
toms were most prominent at the time. Afterwards 

* A bricklayer had caught the syphilitic virus from his 
wife. The genital organ were | of the i J h cti 

The patient was not ahle to describe the <1 tth suffi- 

cient clearness to enable me to deride whether the primitive 
infection had been chancre or sycosis. The violent mer- 
curial preparations which had been used against the in' 
tion, had destroyed the uvula, had pierced the paint' 1 , and 
had affected the nose to such an extent that the fleshy parts 
were mostly eaten away, and the remaining portion was 
swollen and inflamed, and pierced like a honeycomb by ulc 
He suffered great pain, and emitted an intolerably feet id 
smell. He had also a psoric ulcer on the leg. The anti- 
psoric remedies improved the ulcers to a certain degl 
healed the ulcer upon the leg, and removed the hurning 
pain, and also the fetid odour of the nose considerably. 
The remedies employed against sycosis also helped some. 
But, upon the whole, very little was accomplished, until the 
patient received a small dose of the mercurial preparation, 
by means of which a cure was speedily effected. The 
nose, of course, was irretrievably lost. 



125 

the remaining portion of the psoric symptoms was re- 
moved by the corresponding antipsorics, and then the 
last traces of syphilis and sycosis by other adequate 
remedies. The complete and radical cure of sycosis, 
may be recognised by the same indications, as the cure 
of the syphilitic miasm, viz., by the healthy colour of 
the skin being restored at the places upon which the 
cauliflower excrescence had been located ; whenever 
this excrescence is removed by mere external remedies, 
the place which had been covered with it, exhibits an 
unhealthy looking skin. 



PSORA 



Before I enter upon the exposition of my views 
on the third chronic miasm, it appears important to 
me, to premise the following general reman 

The infection by means of one of the three known 
chronic miasms is generally the work of a moment ; 
but the complete development of the disease lent 

upon such an infection, throughout the who: 
requires more time. Not until several 
elapsed, during winch the miasmatic disease has com- 
pleted Us internal developmi - kind nature cause 
that disease to ultimate in some h i, which 
receives the internal disease into itself, 
hushes or calms it. The vital sort of 

protection in this local symptom, which is formed upon 

one of the least dan. parts of th< il skin, 

Tally upon the spot, where the : 

first become affected by ihe sm. 

It is astonishing that this mode of action on the part 
of nature should tuu 

cians. They mighl h&\ \ it it least in the 
which nature pursui _ard to the syphilitic miafl 

which they had treated for the - hundred 

years, and would then not have failed in drawing con- 
clusions relative to the two other chronic miasms. 

It seems to me unpardonable that pi I, in 

spite of all this experience, should have mistaken the 
venereal chancre for a mere external cutaneous some- 
thing, which had nothing to do with the internal or- 
ganism, and which, therefore, ought to be unhesitatingly 







127 

removed by cauteries in order to prevent the venereal 
poison from being absorbed into the organism. This 
system of cauterization appears to me unpardonable, 
because it had already been adopted in hundreds of 
thousands of patients, and had invariably been followed 
by an outbreak of secondary syphilis. 

Just as condemnable appears to me the reasoning of 
the alloeopathic physicians, that the itch is a mere cu- 
taneous affection with which the internal organism has 
nothing to do, and that the best way of healing it, is to 
remove it by some external application ; whereas the 
only natural way to remove the external eruption, is, 
to cure first the internal psoric disease, upon the 
principle " cessante causa, cessat effectus" 

As long as the eruption is yet existing upon the skin, 
the psoric disease exhibits itself in its simple and most 
natural integrity, and may be cured in the easiest, 
quickest and safest manner. 

But as soon as the internal disease has been deprived 
of its vicarious symptom, the psoric miasm is forced to 
spread over the most delicate parts of the internal 
organism and to develop its secondary symptoms. 

How necessary it is carefully to avoid every removal 
of the cutaneous eruption by means of external in- 
fluences, and never to attempt any other but internal 
cure of the psoric disease, may be inferred from the 
fact, that the most painful chronic sufferings which had 
followed the removal of the psoric eruption by means 
of external applications, and which frequently had lasted 
already for years, are often hushed, for a time, by the 
mere re-appearance of the psoric eruption upon the skin 
consequent upon powerful revolutions in the organism. 
See above Nos. 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, (9) 16, (17) (21) 23, 33, 
35, 39, 4i, 54, 53, 60, 72, 81, 87, 89, 94. 

It must not be supposed, however, that, after the sup- 
pression of the psoric eruption has caused the internal 
disease to manifest itself in a series of secondary symp- 
toms, the internal psora is brought back again into its 
former simple and natural condition by the mere re- 
appearance of the eruption upon the skin, and that this 



128 

new eruption may be cured just as easily as the 
primitive eruption. 

This is not the case. The primitive eruption is much 
less constant upon the skin than the chancre and the 
cauliflower excrescence ; it oflen even disappears of 
itself, not by the use of external remedies, but by un- 
known causes. Hence the physician has no time to 
lose, if he means to cure the internal disease while 
the external symptom is yet existing upon the skin. 
But he has yet much less time to lose with the second 
eruption, which generally is so changeable, that the 
slightest cause drives it back again in a couple of da 
This may be considered a proof that this second 
eruption was much less perfect than the primitive and 
that, therefore, the physician was not authorised to rely 
upon it for a thorough cure of the psoric diae 

This changeable nature of the second eruption ap- 
pend upon the fact, thai the internal p* 
having been in some degree forced into develop 
secondary affections, h what of its po? 

to embody itself fully in its vicarim totn« This 

is the reason why the treatment of this condition of the 
psoric disease is difficult. It is conducted in the 
manner which will be indie 

The cure of the psorie fore not pro- 

moted by this kind of pseudo eruption being brou 
out again upon the skin cither by internal medicines | 
Nos. 3, 9, 59, 89.) or by unknown causes (see No*. 1, ">, 
6, 8, 16, 23, 28, 29, 33, 35, 39, 41, 54, 
81, 87, 89, 94.) especially however through a fever 
(see Nos. 64, also 55, 56, 74.) ; this kind of pseudo 
eruption is extremely changeable under any circum- 
stances, and it should not be considered available by the 
physician in conducting his treatment 

But even if we could not only bring the eruption out 
again upon the skin, but keep it there for a time, we 
ought not to rely upon it for facilitating the treatment.* 



There was a time when I deemed it possible to facili- 



129 

It is therefore a self-evident truth that the cure of the 
internal psoric disease by means of the anti-psoric rem- 
edies, can only be accomplished in an easy manner, as 
long as the primitive eruption still exists upon the skin ; 
and, on the other hand, we may infer from the above 
remarks, that the method used by allceopathic physicians 
of removing the eruption from the skin by external ap- 
plications, is just as pernicious as the removal of this 
eruption by means of the appropriate homoeopathic 
internal remedy is rational and beneficent. By this lat- 
ter method the whole internal disease, together with its 
vicarious symptom, is effectually, thoroughly, and per- 
manently banished from the organism, and that host of 
horrible secondary affections with which the patient is 



tate the cure of the psoric disease by bringing the eruption 
out again by artificial means. My object was to check the 
secretive functions of the skin, and to induce it by this 
kind of homoeopathic proceeding, to reproduce the erup- 
tion. For this purpose I ordered the patient to put a plas- 
ter upon his back, and, if possible, upon other parts of his 
body. The plaster was prepared by slowly melting six 
ounces of Burgundy pitch, which, after having been re- 
moved from the fire, was carefully mixed with an ounce of 
Venetian turpentine. A portion of this mixture was spread 
warm upon soft goat-skin. For this purpose may also be 
used yellow wax mixed with fir turpentine ; also taffetas silk 
covered with elastic resin. It is not the stimulating vir- 
tue of the mixture which helped to reproduce the eruption ; 
for, upon a person not affected with the psoric virus, the 
above plaster produces neither eruption nor itching. I 
found this method to be the most efficacious in exciting the 
skin for the reproduction of the eruption. Nevertheless, 
however patiently the patients bore the infliction of this 
plaster, a complete and sufficiently lasting eruption was 
never produced. All that I was able to obtain was, to pro- 
duce a few itching vesicles, which, however, disappeared 
agaiif'from the skin as soon as the plaster was removed. 
More frequently the plaster induced a sort of moist soreness 
of the skin. The best result of the plaster was a more or 



130 

invariably assailed after the violent external removal of 
the psoric eruption is destroyed in its very germ. 

The excuse of which the private physician (for the 
hospital physician has no excuse) avails himself, is 
quite delusive. He says that " not knowing when, 
where, and from what person the infection has been 
caught, he cannot be sure whether the few vesicles 
which appear upon the skin are really the itch, and 
that he cannot, therefore, be made responsible for the 
evil consequences which may attend the suppression of 
those vesicles by means of lead-water, or ointments of 
zinc and mercury; and that rich parents desired this 
suppression to be accomplished as speedily as possi- 
ble." 

Such an excuse cannot be regarded ; for- every 
conscientious physician ought to know that no eruption 
whatsoever ought to be removed from the skin* by 
external applications. The human skin never produces 

less violent itching which occurred upon the skin, es- 
pecially at night, and often spread over those parts of the 
body that were not covered with the This itch- 

ing produced indeed a striking alleviation of the most I 
lent secondary psoric a fleet ions, such as tuhercular phthi 
But, in most cases, such a result was either imp gen? 

erally there was hut a slight itching) or, if I obtained 
itching in a high degree, the patient found it bo intolerable 
that he could not have borne it tor a sufficient length of 
time to obtain permanent relief from his psoric affection. 
On removing the plaa D the most vehement itching 

was stopped, the eruption disappeared again, and the 
disease remained the same. This shows that the second 
eruption does not possess the larmcter as the primi- 

tive eruption did, and that it is therefore of no avail for 
the purpose of facilitating the cure by internal r< 

Moreover the troublesome itching of the artificially pro- 
duced eruption, and the exhaustion consequent upon that 
itching by far outweigh the little value which the method 
here indicated might otherwise possess. 

* See Organon of the Healing Art, fifth edition, § 187- 
203. 



131 

an eruption out of itself; it never assumes a morbid 
condition without being invited, or rather, obliged to do 
so, by the abnormal activity of the whole organism. As 
every external eruption results from an abnormal activi- 
ty of the whole organism, so ought the disappearance of 
that eruption from the skin to be the spontaneous result 
of the complete and radical cure of the internal disease 
by means of appropriate internal remedies. In this way 
the eruption often disappears sooner than by the use of 
external contrivances. 

In the second place, no intelligent physician can be 
deceived as to the nature of the eruption, whether it be 
the original, genuine, transparent itch vesicle, which be • 
comes afterwards filled with pus, and is then surround- 
ed with a narrow, red border, or whether it look like the 
rash granule, or have the appearance of pimples, or lit- 
tle scabs which have become scattered by means of 
friction : every physician ought to know that the itch is 
constantly indicated when the child or even the recently- 
born baby incessantly scratch the spot upon which 
the eruption is seen, or when full-grown people complain 
of a voluptuously itching eruption, (were it but a single 
pimple,) which is especially vehement in the evening 
and during the night, and becomes intolerable unless it 
be scratched, after which they experience a burning 
pain. In this case, it is undoubtedly the itch, although 
rich people seldom are able to tell when, where, and 
from whom they have caught the infection. As I said 
above, the unseen opportunities of catching the itch 
are innumerable. 

As soon as the family physician perceives this, one 
or two globules of sulphur, prepared according to the 
rules to be indicated hereafter, will be more than suffi- 
cient to cure the internal psoric disease, and to free the 
patient from the eruption. 

The homoeopathic physician, in his private practice, 
seldom is called to a patient at the time when the erup- 
tion first shows itself. The patient, being tortured by 
the intolerable itching, first applies to some old woman> 
to an apothecary or to a barber, who cover him with 



132 

a sulphur ointment, with a view, as they suppose, of 
helping him speedily. Only in military barracks, in 
prisons, hospitals, orphan asylums, the patients are 
obliged to apply to the physician, provided the surgeon 
of the establishment does not forestall him. 

Even in the remotest ages, sulphur was looked upon 
as a specific against the itch ; for the psoric miasm did 
not, in every instance, form leprosy ; but it was used 
only as an external remedy. A. C. Celsus, (V. 28,) 
proposes several kinds of grease and ointment by means 
of which he imagines the itch may be cured. One of 
those ointments is made of sulphur mixed with tar ; oth- 
ers contain copper. The oldest physicians already used 
warm sulphur baths against the itch, as is the custom 
now. The eruption generally disappeared by these 
means. But subsequent ailments showed already then 
that the patients did not always recover. An Athenian, 
for instance, was attacked with anasarca on account of 
having removed his itch by using the warm sulphur 
baths upon the island of Melos, (now Milo.) He died 
of this disease 300 years before Celsus, as is reported 
by the author of the fifth book Epidemion, which is con- 
sidered due to Hippocrates. 

Sulphur was never given internally, for the simple 
reason that neither the older nor the modern physicians 
understand that the itch is chiefly an internal disease. 

Modern physicians, too, never give sulphur only in- 
ternally, because they do not regard the itch chiefly as 
an internal disease. They give sulphur internally, as 
a mere adjuvans of the external ointments, in frequently 
repeated doses of 10, 20, 30 grains, purging the patient 
and making it impossible to determine how far this ex- 
cessive internal use of sulphur had been either hurtful 
or useful ; at least it was impossible that the whole pso- 
ric disease should ever be thoroughly cured by this 
treatment. The only object which was obtained by 
giving the sulphur as a purgative, was to facilitate the 
removal of the external eruption ; but this removal was 
just as pernicious as when no sulphur at all had been 



133 

taken internally. Such excessive doses of sulphur* can 
never thoroughly cure a psoric disease, even though no 
ointment should have been used at all. Such excessive 
doses rouse the vital principle into a hostile attitude, and 
cause it to reject the sulphur altogether without having 
appropriated to itself the curative virtue of the drug; in 
some cases they even increase the disease or excite an al- 
together new disease in the system. The itch can only 
be cured by the homoeopathic preparation of sulphur. 

Since experience teaches that the itch, even the re- 
cently formed itch, with the eruption existing upon the 
skin, cannot be cured by sulphur ointments used in 
combination with large quantities of sulphur taken in- 
ternally, it may easily be conceived that, when the erup- 
tion has been thus violently removed from the skin, and 
the psoric disease has already pervaded all the recesses 

* It may not be amiss to quote here, by way of illustra- 
tion, the words of an impartial and profound savant and in- 
defatigable inquirer, Count Buquoy, who is practically ac- 
quainted with Homoeopathy. We find them recorded in 
his " Anregungen fur phil. icissens. Forschung" (Leipsic, 
1825, p. 386. and f.) Having first supposed that the pa- 
thogenetic symptoms of a remedy a, b, g, have received 
into themselves the symptoms exhibited by the disease, 
which we will designate A, 6, V, and have impressed upon 
them the character of the medicinal symptoms, the char- 
acter of mutability, perishability, etc., he continues in this 
way : "The medicinal symptoms, a, b, g, which have re- 
ceived into themselves the symptoms of the disease, A, B, 
V, easily pass off on account of the extremely small dose 
which has produced them. If the homoeopathic physician 
gives too large a dose, the natural morbid symptoms A, B, 
V, may indeed be changed to the medicinal symptoms a, 
b, g ; but the new disease is now just as firmly rooted as 
the primitive disease was; hence the organism finds it 
just as difficult to free itself from the new disease as it did 
to free itself from the primitive. If a very large dose is 
given, a new, often life-endangering disease is formed, or 
else the organism tries with all its might to free itself from 
the poison bv means of diarrhoea, vomiting, etc." 
6 



134 

of the organism in the form of secondary chronic affec- 
tions, these can much less be cured by powders of sul- 
phur, by sulphur baths, by drinking sulphuretted mineral 
water, or any other water of this kind ; in short, by the 
excessive use and repetition of sulphur, though it be a 
specific remedy against the itch.* It is indeed true, 
that many patients appear to be freed, for a time, from 
the original psoric affection by the use of sulphur baths, 
(hence the multitude of patients affected with all sorts 
of chronic affections, who flock to the baths of Teplitz, 
Baden, Aix-la-Chapelle, Neundorf, Warmbrunn, etc.;) 
but they are not cured for all that ; the sulphur may 
have occasioned a medicinal disease, which, for a time, 
may take the place of the natural disease, and is much 
less troublesome than this one ; but the medicinal dis- 
ease soon passing off again, the original disease returns, 
either with its original or with ncw r and more trouble- 
some symptoms, sometimes affecting the more deli; 
parts of the organism. The ignorant physician, on | 
ceiving this change, rejoices at the primitive group of 
symptoms having, as he supposes, given place to anew 
disease, and persuades the patient that the renewed use 
of the baths will cure this new disease as well as it did 
the former; he knows not that this new disease i 
mere • modification of the former symptoms, and is 
doomed to witness the sad result that the patient obtains 
much less relief from using the baths a second time, 
yea, that the repeated use of those baths positively 
gravates the sufferings of the patient. 

I may, therefore, positively assert, that sulphur has 
done much injury in the hands of alloeopathic ph\ 
cians ; and that excessive use and frequent repetition 

* Sulphur, when administered in a small dose, seldom 
fails in effecting an incipient cure of the chronic non-venen al 
diseases. I know a physician in Saxony who obtained a 
great reputation for curing chronic diseases, by adding, with- 
out knowing why, flowers of sulphur to every one of hia 
prescriptions. In the beginning, they produced a good 
effect, but only in the beginning, for, in a little while, the 
good effects ceased. 



135 

have made this drug almost useless for the homoeo- 
pathic physician in the treatment of those endless se- 
condary psoric affections, for the cure of which alloeo- 
pathic doctors had employed it in vain. 

In all those mismanaged cases of psoric diseases, 
sulphur will be much less useful to the homoeopathic 
physician than it is in a recently formed itch, with the 
eruption still existing upon the skin. Sulphur will in- 
deed show a curative effect, whether the psoric disease 
after the violent suppression of the eruption, be still 
slumbering in the system, or whether it have already 
broke forth in the shape of all sorts of secondary chronic 
affections ; but it can only be rarely exhibited in those 
mismanaged cases, on account of its virtues having been 
already misused by the allceopathic physicians ; where- 
as, sulphur, and, indeed, most other antipsoric remedies, 
should never be given more than three or four times, 
even with suitable intermediate remedies, if the physi- 
cian does not wish the cure to retrograde in consequence 
of the too frequent use of that powerful antipsoric. 

]\liethcr the violent suppression of the eruption have 
forced the internal psora to manifest itself in the form 
of secondary chronic affections, or whether it be still 
slumbering in the system, sulphur alone is never suffi- 
cient to effect the cure of such a psoric disturbance. 
Hence it is, that sulphur baths, either natural or artifi- 
cial, are of no avail in the treatment of such secondary 
psoric affections. 

I repeat that, (with the exception of a recently form- 
ed itch with the eruption still existing upon the skin,)* 
every other psoric disturbance of the organism, whether 
the psora be yet in a latent condition or whether it have 
already assumed the various forms of secondary chronic 
affections, can never be cured by one antipsoric reme- 

* Recent itch, with the eruption, has often yielded to one 
small dose of homoeopath ically prepared sulphur in the space of 
2, 3 or'4 weeks. On one occasion such a cure was effected in a 
family of seven persons by means of half a grain of the million 
potency of carbo vegetabilis ; and on three other occasions by 
means of a like dose of the same potency of Sepia. 



136 

dy, but that complete and radical cure of such seconda- 
ry psoric affections in bad cases, requires the use of a 
large number of antipsorics. 

The psoric miasm, having pervaded millions of organ- 
isms for thousands of years, has gradually developed out 
of itself an endless number of symptoms, varied accord- 
ing to differences of constitution, climate, residence, 
education, habits, occupation,* mode of life, diet, and 
various other bodily and spiritual influences. Hence it 
cannot appear strange that not one antipsoric should be 
sufficient to correspond lo that endless number of dif- 
ferent psoric symptoms, and that the use of several an- 
tipsoric remedies should be required for a complete and 
radical removal of the psoric miasm. t 

As I have said before, only the recent itch, with the 
eruption still existing upon the skin, can be completely 
cured by one dose of sulphur. I am not prepared to 
assert that such a speedy cure is possible in every case ; 
the age of the patient has a great influence upon the re- 
sult of the treatment. When the eruption has already 
existed for some time upon the skin and begins to d 
appear of itself, in that case the internal psora has al- 
ready obtained preponderance in the system. The erup- 
tion now ceases, to a certain extent, to be a vicari 
symptom for the internal disease ; and the signs of latent 
psora or secondary psoric affections begin to manifest 
themselves. In such a case as this, sulphur is no Ion 
sufficient to effect a cure ; nor is any single antipso 
remedy capable of producing that result ; several anti- 
psorics are required for that purpose, according as their 
use is indicated by the existing symptoms. 

* I mean occupations which exert ■ special influence upon 
particular organs of the system, which affect certain functions of 
the mind more than others. 

j- I forbear indicating the great exertions, the innumerable and 
careful observations, the inquiries, reflections and various 
periments by means of which I have succeeded, after the lapse of 
eleven years, in filling up that large chasm in the system of the 
homoeopathic healing art, in indicating the cure of the countl 
chronic diseases, and in thus completing, as much as possible, 
the blessings which homoeopathy has bestowed upon mankind. 



137 



The homoeopathic treatment of the chronic non-vene- 
real diseases generally accords with what has been 
taught in the Organon of the healing art, relatively to the 
treatment of acute diseases. The particular rules to be 
observed in the treatment of chronic diseases 1 shall 
now point out. 

In regard to diet and mode of life I shall only give 
general directions, which the physician will have to ap- 
ply in a special case according to his own discretion. 
Of course, whatever is injurious to the action of the 
remedies, must be carefully avoided. However, it will 
sometimes be necessary to modify, more or less, the 
dietetic rules which homoeopathy enjoins upon the pa- 
tient with so much strictness and emphasis ; this modi- 
fication must especially take place w T hen we have to 
treat lingering diseases which often last for a long time, 
and when it becomes necessary for the physician to con- 
sider the age, the occupation, and the social condition of 
the patient. 

Strict diet is not the curative agent in the treatment 
of chronic diseases, as is asserted by the opponents of 
homoeopathy, w r ith a view of lessening its merit ; the 
cure depends chiefly upon the medical treatment. This 
is proved by the fact that many chronic patients have 
followed, for years, the strictest diet without being able 
to obtain relief ; the disease increases, as is the case 
with all chronic miasms. 

In order to make the cure possible and practicable, 
the homoeopathic practitioner is, therefore, often obliged 
to modifv the severe diet prescribed by homoeopathy. 
Bv wiselv vielding to circumstances the physician ef- 
fects the cure more certainly and more perfectly than by 
obstinately insisting upon a mode of life which it is im- 
possible for the patient to follow. 

If their strength permit, the journeyman ought to 
continue his labour, the artizan work at his trade, the 
farmer attend to his business in the fields, the house- 
keeper to her domestic concern ; only that which is gen- 
erally injurious to health, ought to be carefully avoided. 



138 

Persons whose business confines them to a room, and 
obliges them to lead a sedentary life, ought to take as 
much exercise as possible in the open air, without, how- 
ever, totally abandoning their usual pursuits. 

Rich patients must walk more than they usually do. 
The physician may permit them moderate and proper 
dancing, rural entertainments, provided they do not con- 
flict with the necessary dietetic precautions, conversa- 
tion with friends ; he may also permit them innocent 
music, and listening to amusing lectures ; they may 
sometimes even go to the theatre, but they must never 
play cards. The physician ought to lay restrictions 
upon riding, either on horseback or in the carriage, and 
to interdict all exciting intercourse ; for, bad moral ef- 
fects re-act upon the body. All amorous intercourse 
and sensual excitement, reading lewd novels, and super- 
stitious or exciting book i be carefully avoided.* 

The literary man ought to take much exercise in the 
open air, and, in bad weather, do some light mechanical 
work in the house. While the treatment lasts, he 
ought to limit his intellectual labour to Writing Btt 
of his own composition; reading ought either never to 
be permitted, or, at any rate, the quality and quantity 



* Some physicians are apt to give then. nportance 

by interdicting all sexual intercourse to married chronic 
patients. If both parties are capable of enjoying it, such 

an interdiction is, to say the least of it, ridiculous ; for, in 
this case, the interdiction neither can he nor will be 
otherwise a great family misfortune might come out of it. 
No laws should he passed which cannot he kept, or the ob- 
servation of which would induce greati r mischief than that 
which they were intended to prevent. In case one of the 
parties should be incapable of sexual intercourse, the inl 
diction becomes useless* Sexual intercourse is a thing 
which can neither he properly recommended nor interdict- 
ed. All that homoeopathy ought to do in regard to sexual 
intercourse, is, to enahlc the parties to enjoy it (either 
antipsoric or antisyphilitic remedies,) and to restore the 
morhidly excited desire of either party to its natural tone. 



139 

of the reading matter ought to be carefully indicated. 
In mental diseases, reading is to be positively forbidden. 

Chronic patients of all classes must carefully avoid 
the arbitrary use of domestic remedies, or of interme- 
diate medicines of any kind ; patients of the higher 
classes must carefully abstain from perfumes, scented 
water, tooth powders, etc. If the patient is accustomed 
to wear wool over the bare skin, he may continue to do 
so ; but in proportion as the cure progresses, and the 
weather becomes warmer, cotton, and finally linen 
ought to be substituted. Fontanels, in important 
chronic diseases, should only be discontinued when the 
cure has already been progressing for some time. This 
remark is especially applicable to patients advanced in 
age. 

Baths have to be discontinued ; ablutions may be 
substituted in their stead ; they may be used for the 
sake of cleanliness. Bleeding and cupping must be 
strictly forbidden, no matter how much the patient may 
have been accustomed to such depletions. 

In regard to diet, I may observe, that men of all 
classes may consent to impose some restrictions upon 
themselves, in order to be freed from a troublesome 
chronic disease. If the abdomen is not the chief seat 
of the chronic disease, in this case, all severe restrictions 
may be dispensed with, especially among the lower 
classes, and when the patient is capable of taking the 
necessary exercise by working at his trade. The poor 
may live on bread and salt, and yet recover from his 
disease by proper treatment ; he may safely eat pota- 
toes, boiled flour and fresh cheese, (moderately, of 
course ;) but onions and pepper, he ought to use in a 
limited quantity. 

He who cares for his health may, even at the 
king's table, find something which will abundantly sat- 
isfy a moderate and natural appetite. 

What is the most difficult part of the treatment, is to 
regulate the drinks of the patient. Coffee has perni- 
cious effects upon both body and soul ; they may be 
found enumerated in my little work, (Wirkungen des 



140 

Kaffees, Lcipsic, 1S03.) Unfortunately coffee has be- 
come so necessary to the so-called civihz oris 
that, unless the homoeopathic physician interdicts the 
use of coffee once for ever during the treatment, he will 
find it just as difficult to abolish the use of that bever- 
age as it is difficult to eradicate superstition and preju- 
dice. Young people of twenty and even thirty 
bedeprived oi it at once, without any injur 
a more advanced age ought to be persuaded to 
from the use of coffee little by little, taking a little l< 
of it every day ; most of them will be found willing to 
leave off the use of that bei | do 
so without experiencing anj 

except perhaps for the first lu o or three days. Even as 
late as six years ago I was under the imp! that 

coffee might be permitted, in a small quantity, to old 
people, in case they should I up. 

But I am n< i that the proira< cof- 

fee docs not make it harmless, and that the physician 
who is bound to tak( his 

pain _hi to insist upon their depriving 

of coffee altogether, [ftney have i nfi- 

dencc in their physician, they will all conform to his 
reasonable wishes with great reading as. R< ast rye or 
wheat smeil and much like c< 

cure a beveraue which led by both i 

and poor people in different count] 

The same criticism may be passed upon ( 
Both the c< d the finer kinds of this h 

are alluring to the retly and in fa) I i 

weaken the ner\< s. T. a, whether it bo weak or 
and whether it I 

it only once a day, is ah' and 

ought, tl le % d during the t I of 

chronic diseases. 1 hai ntly found that also in 

regard to tea, the wishes of an intelligent and rcspee' 
physician are at once 

"Wine needs not to be completely interdicted to chro- 
nic patients. Old people cannot well be suddenlv and 
completely deprived of wine, especially if tin 



141 

been in the habit of using it without water ever shice 
their childhood.* This would be followed by sinking 
of strength ; the cure might be retarded and even life 
endangered, Daring the first weeks the patients will 
mix their wine with equal portions of water ; gradually 
they will mix the wine with two, three, four, five and 
even six portions of water and a little sugar ; this last 
beverage may be recommended as a common drink to 
all chronic patients. 

As regards brandy, chronic patients must absolutely 
abstain from it. The physician will require a good 
deal of firmness in diminishing the quantity of brandy 
usually taken by the patient. In case the strength of 
the patient should sink in consequence of his being de- 
prived of brandy, a little pure wine may be substituted 
in the place, which may gradually be mixed with water 
according to circumstances. 

We know it to be a law of nature that the condiiion 
which a medicinal or spirituous substance realizes in 
the system, is followed by an opposite condition on the 
part of the organism, provided such an opposition is at 
all possible. Hence we may infer that the increase of 
strength and animal heat consequent upon the use of 
ardent spirits will be followed by a state of depression 
and diminution of heat. The physician is bound to 
shield the chronic patient against the injury which those 
opposing extremes would inflict upon him. Only the 
alloeopathic physician who cares nothing about conscien- 
tious observation, and does not wish to become con- 
vinced of the injurious effects of his palliatives, advises 
his patients to drink every day some pure wine as a 
tonic ; the homoeopathic doctor never makes himself 
guilty of such mal-practice, (sed ex ungue leonem !) 

* It is both improper and injurious, even for healthy men, 
to use pure wine as an habitual drink ; this can only be 
admitted on extraordinary occasions. The young man 
who uses spirituous drinks in abundance, will find it im- 
possible to control his sexual desire until he is married ; gon- 
orrhoea and chancre are the consequences of such excesses. 

6* 



142 - 

The use of beer is liable to many restrictiona^ 
Brewers are now-a-days too much in the habit of mix- 
ing with the beer all sorts of vegetable substances, part- 
ly to preserve it from turning sour, partly and especially 
to tickle the palate, and to produce an intoxicating ef* 
feet. Those substances are injurious to health. The 
different kinds of ale, though they contain a diminished 
quantity of malt, are also mixed with narcotic substances 
for the purpose of producing an intoxicating effect. 

The use of acetic and citric acid is likewise to be 
prohibited. Vinegar and lemon juice are especially 
hurlful to those who are affected with nervous and ab- 
dominal complaints ; moreover, those substances either 
neutralize or increase the effects of certain rei 
Sour fruit, such as sour chcrriesj unripe gooseberries, 
currants, ought to be used only in very small quantities ; 
sweet frliit may be used mod stewed prunes 

should not be used by those who are inclined to consti- 
pation. YouiiLi real oaghl not to d by those 
whose digestive cted. Tho*c whose g 
erative powers are weakened) must moderate tb< 
selves in the use of chi< and mill 
vanilla, truffles, caviare, all of which act as palliair 
From this last reason women wh< flow too 
scantily, must avoid using saffron and cinnamon. 1 1 
peptic persons have to avoid cinnamon] cloves, ami 
nium, pepper, ginger, and bitters ; all these sul 
act as palliatives and are injurious to Ik thic 
medicines. Flatuous vegetables of all kinds ought to 
be avoided by those who arc inclined to constipation and 
difficulty of passing their stools. Beef, wh< 
bread, cow's milk, and a moderate qua n tit] ; i butter 
appear to be the m- ral and the mo !ess 
food for man, hence also for chronic patients. These 
substances ought not to contain much salt. Next to 
beef may be ranked mutton, game, old chickens, young 
pigeons ; goose and duck arc yet less admissible to chro- 
nic patients than pork. Salt and smoked meat must 
be used with great moderation. 



143 

Raw chopped herbs, spices and old rancid cheese are 
to be carefully avoided. 

Fish ought to be used boiled, not too much of it, 
without any spiced sauces ; no smoked fish or such as 
has been dried in the air ; herrings and sardines in 
moderate quantity. 

Moderation in eating and drinking is a sacred duty 
for all chronic patients. 

Tobacco may be permitted in some chronic diseases 
to patients who have constantly used tobacco, and who 
do not spit in using it. However, restrictions are to be 
imposed when the intellectual functions are affected, 
when the patient does not sleep well, is dyspectic and 
constipated. When there is opening of the bowels 
every time the tobacco is used, this is an additional 
reason why its use should be prohibited, and why suit- 
able antipsorics should be employed towards removing the 
constipation entirely. The use of snuff against habitual 
catarrh, obstruction of the nose and chronic inflammation 
of the eyes is a great obstacle to the cure of chronic 
diseases ; it, therefore, ought to be gradually abolished 
as soon as possible. There is another reason why the 
use of snuff should be interdicted. The medicinal pre- 
parations with which the snuff is moistened injure the ol- 
factory nerve with which they are brought in immediate 
contact ; this the smoking of tobacco is much less able to 
do on account of its virtues being considerably dimin- 
ished by the fire. 

There are other obstacles to the cure of chronic dis- 
eases which I shall now enumerate. 

Those events which are capable of rousing the latent 
psora which has hitherto manifested its existence in ihe 
organism by some of those slight deviations from its 
normal condition that have been enumerated above, are 
also capable, if they should attack a patient in whom 
the chronic disease is fully developed, to make its cure 
difficult and even impossible, unless they speedily yield 
to more favourable circumstances. 

These events being different in their nature, they are 
injurious in different degrees. 



144 

Excessive fatigue, working in marshy regions, great 
injuries and wounds, excessive heat or cold, starvation, 
poverty, unwholesome food are less capable of rousing 
latent psora or aggravating a manifest psoric disease 
than an unhappy marriage or a gnawing conscience. 
Yes, ten years of hard labour in the penitentiary is 
much less injurious to the health of an innocent man 
than spiritual sufferings. The psoric miasm, which had 
been hitherto latent in his system and gave the favorite 
of a king the appearance of blooming health, quickly 
breaks forth into a chronic affection or induces a stale 
of insanity, when contempt and indigence are substituted 
in the place of his former brilliant position. The psoric 
mother whose health had already been vacillating, 
attacked with an incurable suppuration of the lungs or 
with a cancer of the breast in consequence of the sudden 
death of her only son ; disdained love induces a state 
of melancholy in the sensitive young woman, who had 
been affected with psoric hysteria* 

In such cases, even the best antipsoric treatment is 
scarcely capable of procuring relief to those unfortu- 
nate patients. 

Grief and sorrow arc the principal C n Inch 

either develop latent psora, or aggravate . ex- 

isting secondary psoric affection. 

Even the least remains of the psoric miasm ai 
permanent, grief andvexati loped into -ill s< 

of chronic psoric affections f and vexation act 

more certainly, more frequently; and more suddenly 
than any other contrary influences could do. 

The physician ought to make it his duty and his de- 
light to remove from the patient all those influences 
that might be an obstacle to the cure, and especially in 
the case of chronic patients, he ought to shield them, 
to the best of his ability, against grief and vexation. 

If both philosophy and religion should forsake the 
patient ; if the patient is not capable of bearing with 
resignation the sufferinus and tribulations which may 
befal him without his fault ; if the patient is constantly 
assailed by grief and vexation without the physician 



145 

being able to ward off those pernicious influences, then 
it is better that the patient should be left to his fate ;* 
for even the wisest, most skilful, and most conscienti- 
ous physician will find it impossible to procure the pa- 
tient relief under those unfavourable circumstances. It 
would be foolish to continue the construction of an edi- 
fice upon a ground which is every day undermined by 
the waves slowly washing away one portion after the 
other. 

There is another class of chronic patients whose af- 
fections are just as difficult to cure. They are those 
patients among the higher classes, who have used for 
years mineral baths, f and have resorted to those boast- 
ed methods of cure and nostra which are sent over the 
whole world from France and England. These nostra 
being taken in repeated doses, develop the psoric miasm, 
even when uncombined with syphilis, so irresistibly, 
and aggravate the secondary psoric affections to such 
an extent, that those inroads upon the vital powers of 
the organism, if they should be continued for some 
years, make the cure of chronic affections impossible. 
Why this should be so, is difficult to say. It may be 
presumed that new affections have been added to the ori- 
ginal malady by means of those heroic non-homoeopathic 
remedies, and that the magnitude and frequent repeti- 
tion of these remedies have impressed upon those af- 
fections the character of chronic permanency. Or, 
the different powers of organic life, irritability, sensi- 
bility, the faculty of reproduction may have become so 

* This grief may be a symptom of the general disease 
without being occasioned by external influences. In this 
case, regard must be had to this symptom in the selection 
of an antipsoric. Such morbid states of the mind are some- 
times cured with great ease. 

t Even if the water itself is not contrary to the disease ; 
nevertheless, the frequent use of baths must be considered 
a repetition of powerful closes, which often exercise a 
pernicious effect upon the disease, and very seldom do 
much good. 



146 

much weakened by this abuse, that all those causes 
united may have produced a disturbance which no sen- 
sible man will consider elementary ; and no homoeopa- 
thic physician will lightly undertake to regulate the 
chaos of sufferings which is exhibited in such wofully 
misused organisms. 

Such violent and exhausting modes of treatment are 
not only incapable of curing the primitive psoric dis- 
ease, but they aggravate it by producing dangerous me- 
dicinal affections, and finally threaten to overwhelm the 
vital powers altogether. 

If the pernicious effects of the old method of cure 
merely resulted in dynamic derangements of the or. 

L, the organism would soon recover from those 
after the treatment should h d discontinw 

time, of else homo le to 

neutralize those bad efl But thee 

disappear. It is probable that the sensible and irrit . 
fibre is unna the large and frequently 

repeated do- Uoeopathic medi< ind that 

vital principle protects itself against tl 

modifying or changing 
oi organic life in such s manner as \wY. 
shield them luIu of I dial 

nts. Jt is fur a purpose like this, for n. that 

the vital powers cover tin te skin of the h 

with a horny BU iect that part of the 

body againsl the b id i i Mich it □ 

suffer from the < with corr< ryn- 

lious substances. In the same way, if the i 

aic life a lich 

are not in homoeopathic relation with thi iose 

viscera d by the vital principle bv having 

their sensibility and irritability diminished. Moreo\ 
the more delicate fibre is found abnormally til 
or hardened; the stronger fibre, on the contra 
consumed or even annihilated. 

ventitious, irregular, or i ite formations or 

growths which post-mortem examinations exhibit to 
and which are then attributed to the malignant charac- 



14? 

te? of the primitive disease. Such a crippled condition 
of things occurs very often) and is, in many cases, in- 
curable. Only in patients who are not too far advan- 
ced in age, and whose powers have not been too deeply 
sunk by the destructive drugs of alloeopathic physicians, 
as is unfortunately almost always the case, the care-* 
ful and intelligent homoeopathic physician may succeed 
in restoring the original health of the patient. But 
such a result can only be obtained under the most fa* 
vourable external circumstances. When these occur 
and are maintained, the physician may enable the vital 
principle, by disembarrassing it first from the influences 
of the psoric miasm, to gradually remove the degenera- 
tions which the unnatural doses of the alloeopathic doctor 
had forced the vital powers to form for the sake of pre- 
serving the system from utter ruin. Daily experience 
proves the fact that the system sinks more and more, in 
proportion as the alloeopathic physician, even if he should 
proceed with attention and care, assails it with his drugs. 

It is impossible that such mismanaged cases should 
be cured in a short time 3 by means of an art which has 
never pretended to have it in its power directly to act 
upon organic defects. 

In these cases the physician has not to deal with a 
simple psoric disease. These cases are often so com- 
plicated that the physician is obliged to abandon them 
at once. But were they ever so favourable, he ought 
never to promise more than relief after a long lapse of time. 
The first thing to be done is, that the various medicinal 
influences which undermine the system in all directions, 
should be removed from the system. This result may 
be obtained without the patient taking any new medi- 
cine, by going for a few months into the country, fol- 
lowing a strict diet, and carefully regulating his mode 
of life. Medicine can do almost nothing against these 
chaotic devastations, of alloeopathic drugs. The vital 
principle, aided perhaps by an antipsoric in some degree, 
must first clear away all those artificial symptoms be- 
fore the true image of the original disease is reproduced.* 

* The most horrible chronic diseases, such as may be 



149 

Wo to the^ homoeopathic physician who means to 
make his reputation by the cure of such wofully mis- 
managed diseases ! He will fail in spite of all his 
care. 

An other obstacle to the cure of chronic diseases is 
the enervation of the system consequent upon ex- 
cesses. The sons of rich parents especially, carried 
away by the allurements of wealth, are too much in- 
clined to injure themselves by destructn . de- 
bauchery, abuse of the sexual organs, gambling, etc. 
By the practice of these vices the r< 
dwindle down to a shadow ; yea, ihe latent psora en- 
tering into combination with the badly managed syphi- 
litic poison, this union gives origin to the most dis- 
tressing disease. Even if the patient mends his w 
remorse will constantly ass.nl the vital forces ami will 
impede the action of the antipsoric remedies so much 
that the homoeopathic practitioner will have to be very 
cautious in promising a successful I at 

Among poor people, where the afor< 
not exist,* there are Other difficulties in the way of a 
successful treatment. Among the poor tl lion 

has generally b< jjht more than cyiee ami the cu- 

taneous eruption has, a> many turn I by 

external applications. By these meansthe internal psoric 
found in the families of poor p and mechanics^ 

whom no fashionable physician Visits, areemed M thr mn.sf 
.simple manner by am; '1 in 

so short a time that it appears almost mini' 

* A pretty frequent obstacle to th fchroni( 

eases is u suppn mil intercourse*'* In ases 

this suppression does not depend upon the physician; in 
other cases a foolish physiciai tiled upon t<> intordiet 

ual intercourse on account of the delicate health of 1 
of the parties. Such an interdiction often indu< ria, 

hypochondriasis and even frenzy. A sensible physician 
will cure these symptoms by permitting the moderate en- 
joyment of sexual intercourse. This subject d 
much more attention than illj bestowi d upon it 



149 

disease has gradually assumed a fearful character. But 
even in these cases a cure is possible in the course of 
time, provided the patients are not too far advanced in 
age, and are docile and not too much exhausted. 

But even in those difficult cases kind nature shows a 
disposition to facilitate the cure, provided we know how 
to understand and profit by her indications. Experience 
teaches tins important fact that, though the patient have 
caught the itch several times in succession, and though 
the psoric miasm have subdued the organism more 
completely now than during the first attack, yet the 
last infection may be cured as easily as if it were the first, 
provided the eruption still exist upon the skin in its in- 
tegrity. By means of one or two doses of the suitable 
antipsoric remedy, the psoric miasm may be removed 
•from the system, and all secondary chronic affections 
may be effectually prevented.* 

It would not be expedient, however, to favour the 
cure of psoric chronic affections by repeatedly pro- 
ducing an artificial infection of the patient by means of 
the psoric virus, even though the patient should not 
dread such a course, although he often does reject it. 

The psoric miasm rarely takes effect in patients af- 
flicted with inveterate psoric diseases, such as sup- 
puration of the lungs, paralysis of one or more parts 
of the body. etc. I may observe that the psoric miasm 
takes effect much sooner when it is caught naturally, 
than when it is communicated by artificial inoculation. 

I have little else to say, relatively to the treatment of 
chronic diseases ; I content myself with referring the in- 

* This is also the case with syphilis. Suppose the 
chancre or bubo have been violently suppressed and sec- 
ondary syphilis has made its appearance. Suppose now that 
the patient has caught the syphilitic infection a second time ; 
in this case as long as the chancre is yet existing, the By- 
philitic disease is cured by one dose of the best mercurial 
preparation. Of course, there must not be any complication 
with psora ; if this should be the case, the psoric affection 
must be removed first, as has been taught above. 



150 

teViigent homoeopathic physician to the list of antipsoric 
remedies which he will find recorded at the end of this 
volume, and which he may use with advantage for the 
attainment of his noble ends. A few rules of precaution 
may, however, not be amiss. 

First, let me recall to mind the great truth, that most 
chronic diseases, excepting however those few diseases 
which spring from syphilis, originate in psora, and can, 
therefore, only be cured by antipsoric remedies, that is 
to say, remedies' which produce, in a healthy organism, 
all those symptoms which characterise both latent and 
developed psora. 

It is for this reason that the homoeopathic physician 
should not pay any attention to the names which he 
finds arrayed in works on pathology, and that he should 
above all, study the symptoms, and select a remedy in 
harmony with them. 

The physician must be on his guard against interrupt- 
ing the action of the antipsoric remedy which he has 
given to the patient ; let him not exhibit an intermediate 
remedy, on account of a little headache which may per- 
haps come the day after the antipsoric remedy f 
given ; or another remedy for a sore throat, or diar- 
rhoea, or a little pain, etc. 

The rule is, that the carefully selected homoeopathic 
remedy should act until it has completed its effect. 

Suppose the remedy calls out symptoms which have 
existed already weeks or months ago ; in this case, the 
apparent aggravation and the development of new symp- 
toms show that the remedy has attacked the disease in 
its inmost nature, and will prove of great use hereafter. 
Therefore, the remedy ought to be left undisturbed. 

But, if the remedy produces symptoms which had 
never been witnessed before, and which may, therefore, 
be supposed to be inherent in the medicine ; in that 
case, the remedy should be permitted to act for a while ; 
generally those symptoms disappear of themselves with- 
out retarding the course adopted by the physician ; but 
if they are troublesome and important, they ought not 
to be tolerated ; they show that the homoeopathic reme- 



151 

dy has not been properly chosen. The effect of such a 
remedy must either be checked by an antidote, or, if no 
antidote should be known, another suitable antipsoric 
must be administered. After this, the false symptoms 
may continue for a while, and occasionally re-appear, but 
they will speedily and permanently vanish, and make 
room for adequate treatment. 

The physician needs not to feel the least uneasiness, 
if the ordinary symptoms of the disease are called out 
by the anti-psoric remedies, in a higher degree of in- 
tensity than they usually manifest. They will diminish 
more and more one day after the other. This so-called 
homoeopathic aggravation is a proof that the cure is not 
only probable, but may even be anticipated with certainty. 

But if the original symptoms of the disease continue 
with the same intensity in the succeeding days as in 
the beginning, or if this intensity increases, this is a 
sure sign that, although the remedy may be homoeopa- 
thic, yet the magnitude of the dose makes the cure im- 
possible. The remedial agent, by its powerful action, 
not only neutralizes its genuine homoeopathic effects, 
but establishes moreover, in the system, a medicinal 
disease by the side of the natural disturbance which is 
even strengthened by the medicine. 

This pernicious effect of too large a dose may be 
seen already in the first 16, 18, 20 days of its action. 
In such a case it becomes necessary either to give an 
antidote, or, if the antidote should not be known, to ad- 
minister a very small dose of such an anti-psoric as 
corresponds most homceopathically to the symptoms 
both of the natural and the artificial disease. If one 
anti-psoric should not be sufficient, another may be 
selected, of course, with the same care.* 

* The accident which is mentioned in this paragraph, I 
have witnessed in my own practice, at the time when I 
was not yet fully acquainted with the remedial virtues of 
Sepia, and especially Lijcopodium and Silicea. I was then 
in the habit of giving 4, 5 or 6 globules of the billion po- 
tency at a dose. Disc lie monili ! 



152 

The excessive action of the otherwise homoeopathic 
remedial agent having been subdued by the proper anti- 
dote or by anti-psoric remedies, the same agent may 
then be exhibited again, but of a ?nuch higher potency 
and in a more minute dose. 

There are three mistakes which the physician can- 
not too carefully avoid ; the first is to suppose that the 
doses which I have indicated as the proper doses in the 
treatment of chronic diseases, and which long experi- 
ence and close observation have induced me to adopt, 
are too small ; the second great mistake is the improper 
use of a remedy ; and the third mistake consists in not 
letting the remedy acta sufficient length of time. 

Nothing is lost by giving even -mailer doses than 
those which I have indicated. The doses can scarcely 
be too much reduced^ provided the i 

are not disturbed by iinjn od. The remedial 

agent will act even in its smallest quantity] provided it 
corresponds perfectly to all the symptoms oi the disease 
and its action is not interfered with by dietetic tr. 
grcssioiis. The advantage of giving the smallest doses 
is tins, that if is an easy matter to neutralize their 
frets in ease the medicine should not have been cfu 
with the necessary exactitude. This , a more 

suitable anti-psoric may then be exhibit 

r J ne second fault is generally owing 
laziness and levity. Many homoeopathic physici 
alas ! remain guilty of these tresj the end of 

their lives; they understand nothing of the homoeopa- 
thic doctrine. 

The first duty of the homoeopathic physician who ap- 
preciates the dignity of Ins character and the value of 
human life, is, to inquire into the whole condition of the 
patient, the cause of tl r as the patient 

remembers it, his mode of life, the nature of his mind, 
the tone and character of his sentiments, his physical 
constitution, and especially the symptoms of the 
This inquiry is made according to the rules laid down 
in the Organon. This being done, the physician then 
tries to discover the true homoeopathic remedy. He 



153 

may avail himself of the existing Repertories with a 
view of becoming approximative^ acquainted with the 
true remedy. But, inasmuch as those Repertories only 
contain general indications, it is necessary that the rem- 
edies which the physician finds indicated in those works, 
should be afterwards carefully studied out in the Mate- 
ria Medica. A physician who is not willing to take this 
trouble, but who contents himself with the general indi- 
cations furnished by the Repertories, and who, by means 
of these general indications, dispatches one patient after 
the other, deserves not the name of a true homoeopathist. 
He is a mere quack, changing his remedies every mo- 
ment, until the poor patient loses his temper and is 
obliged to leave this homicidal dabbler. It is by such 
levity as this that true homoeopathy is injured. 

This ignominious propensity for laziness, in the most 
important of all professions, determines these pseudo- 
homa?opathists to choose their remedies ab asu in 7nor- 
bis, by the directions which are found recorded at the 
head of each medicine. This proceeding is entirely 
wrong, and smells strongly of alloeopathy. Those gen- 
eral indications which are found at the head of each medi- 
cine in the different Repertories, only refer to special 
symptoms and most of them have no other object except 
to inform the homoeopathic physician that certain medi- 
cines, the virtues of which had been tried upon the 
healthy organism, have been found curative in the dis- 
eases named in the Repertories. Alas ! there are even 
authors who advise this kind of empiricism. 

The third great mistake which the homoeopathic phy- 
sician cannot too carefully avoid in the treatment of 
chronic diseases, is the too hasty repetition of the dose. 
This haste is highly indiscreet. Superficial observers 
are very apt to suppose that a remedy, after having fa- 
vourably acted for eight or ten days, can act no more ; 
this delusion is strengthened by the supposition that the 
morbid symptoms would have shown themselves again 
on such or such a day, if the dose had not been renewed. 

If the medicine which the patient has been ordered 
to take, produces a good effect in the first eight or ten 



154 

clays, this is a sure sign that the medicine is strictly ho- 
moeopathic. If, under these circumstances, an aggra- 
vation should occur, the patient need not feel uneasy 
about it; the desired result will be ultimately obtained, 
though it may take 24 or 30 days. It takes 40 and 
even 50 days before the medicine has completed its ac- 
tion. To give another remedy before the lapse of this 
period, would be the height of folly. Let no physician 
suppose that, as soon as the time fixed for the duration 
of the action of the remedy shall have elapsed, anoi 
remedy must at once be administered with a view of 
hastening the cure. This is contrary to experience. 
The surest and safest way of hastening the cure -is, to 
let the medicine act as long as the impi 
'patient continues, were it even far beyond the period 
which is set clown as the probable period of the dura- 
tion of that action.* lie who observes this rule with 
the greatest care, will be the n iful bomo 

pathic practitioner. A new remedy should only be 
given when the older symptoms which had disa; 
for a time, begin to appear i 

to remain or to increase in intensity. Experience 
the only arbiter in these matters, and, in mv own I 
and extensive practice it has already decided beyond 
the shadow of a doubt. 

Considering the complex nature of the human or. 
ism and the delicate structure of it >not 

appear strange that the psoric miasm which ramifies 
through the organism as a parasitical growth, should 
tenaciously resist the action The 

intelligent observer will find it natural that the remedial 

* On one occasion I gave Scj>i<i n_ chronic head- 

ache which came on at interval-. The attacks 
both less frequent and less violent. Another dose stopped 
the headache for the period of 100 days, from which I in- 
fer that the remedy acted during all that time. At the 
end of 100 days another slight attack came on. A third 
dose of Sepia was given, and it is now seven years since 
the headache has completely disappeared. 



155 

agent, acting as it does for a long period, should occa 
sionally appear to make a sort of inroad upon the organ- 
ism. Such exacerbations are only apparent aggrava- 
tions of the disease. They simply show that the dis- 
ease is writhing, as it were, under the action of the 
remedy,* and may occur even 16, 20, or 24 days after 
the period when the medicine was taken. 

The duration of the action of anti-psoric remedies is 
generally proportionate to the chronic character of the 
disease. And, vice-versa, even such remedies as bella- 
donna, sulphur, arsenic, etc, which act for a considera- 
ble length of time in the healthy organism, have the 
duration of their action diminished in proportion as the 
disease is acute and runs speedily through its course. 
In chronic diseases the physician will therefore let the 
remedy act 30, 40, and even 50 days, as long as the 
improvement continues. Nature permits the remedy 
to act for so many days ; and, as long as this action 
continues, it ought not to be interfered with by a new 
remedy.t 



* If the anti-psoric remedy have been chosen with strict 
regard to its homoeopathic nature, and have been exhibited 
in the smallest dose, such exacerbations will progressively 
diminish both in frequency and intensity ; whereas, if the 
dose is too strong, they may appear very often to the great 
prejudice of the patient. 

f It will be difficult to induce physicians to avoid the mis- 
takes which have been censured in these paragraphs. My 
doctrines in regard to the magnitude and the repetition of 
the doses will be doubted for years, even by the greater 
number of homoeopathic physicians. Their excuse will be, 
" that it is quite difficult enough to believe that the minute 
homoeopathic doses have at all the power to act upon the 
disease, but that it is incredible that such small doses should 
be able to influence an inveterate chronic disease even for 
two or three, much less for forty or fifty days ; yea, that, 
after so long a space of time, important results should be 
obtained from those imperceptible doses." My proposition, 
however, is not one of those which ought to be compre- 



156 



The whole cure fails if the anti-psoric remedies 
which have been prescribed for the patient, are not per- 



hended, nor one which ought to be blindly believed, 
one is bound either to comprehend or believe that propo- 
vsition ; I do not comprehend it, but the facts Bpeak for 
themselves. The truth of my proposition is demonstrated 
by experience, in which I have more faith than in my in- 
telligence. Who will undertake to weigh the powers which 
nature conceals in her depths ! Who will doubt of their 
existence? Whoever thought that the medicinal virtues 
of drugs could be developed in an infinite seri _rees 

by means of trituratinir and shaking the raw material I 
Does the physician risk any thing by imitating a method 
which I have adopted from long IC6 and observa- 

tion? Unless the physician imitates my method^ ho cannot 
expect to solve th<- highest problen thai 

of curin njmriuiit C /ironic d .iieh have in-: 

remained uncured up to the time when 1 ed their 

true character, and proper ti This is all that I 

have to say <>n this subject I have fulfilled a duty by 
communicating to the world the great truths which 1 h 

discovered. The world was sadly in Dead of them. If 
physicians do not carefully practice what I teachi let them 
not boast of being my follower-, and, above all, let tfa 
not expect to be successful in their treatment 

Is it proper that we should reject a method of cure until 
the play of those natural forces upon which the method 
rests shall have been revealed to the Bight and shall ha 
been made accessible t<» the minds of children? Would it 
not be foolish to reject the practice of eliciting sparks from 
flint by striking against it with steel, for no other reason 
than this : that we do not understand how so much caloric 
could be latent in the flint, or how this ealoric after being 
elicited from the flint, could melt the little particles of steel 
which separate from the steel when we strike it against the 
flint, and, in the shape of incandescent globules, set the tin- 
der on fire? We understand nothing of all this, and we 
nevertheless have followed for thousands of years the practice 
of eliciting sparks from flint by means of steel. It would 
be foolish to decline learning to write because we do not 



157 

milted to act uninterruptedly to the end. Even if the 
second anti-psoric should have been selected with the 
greatest care, it cannot replace the loss which the rash 
haste of the physician has inflicted upon the patient. 
The benign action of the former remedy, which was 
about manifesting its most beautiful and most surprising 
results, is probably lost to the patient for ever. 

The fundamental rule, in treating chronic diseases, is 
this : to let the carefully-selected homoeopathic anti- 
psoric act as long as it is capable of exercising a cu- 
rative influence and there is a visible improvement going 
on in the system. This rule is opposed to the hasty pre- 
scription of a new, or the immediate repetition of the 
same, remedy. Indeed nothing can be more desirable 
to a physician than to let the improvement of his pa- 
tient continue without interfering with it. By means of 
a single dose of a carefully selected remedy, the homoeo- 
pathic practitioner often produces an improvement in the 
state of his patient, which continues even to the restora- 
tion of health. This result could not have been obtain- 
ed if the dose had been repeated, or if another remedy 
had been given. It is probable that an anti-psoric re- 
medy of the highest potency manifests its curative influ- 
ence for such a length of time, and finally cures the 
disease by developing in the organism an analagous 
chronic disease, which has a stronger hold upon the 
natural disease than the natural disease has upon the 
organism. (See Organon, § 45, fifth edition.) This 
seems to be the course that nature adopts. The arti- 
ficially-excited disease is indeed analogous to the natural 
disease, both as regards symptoms and pain; but, in the 
organism, the artificial disease being the stronger, it anni- 
hilates the natural, which is the weaker. (See Organon, 
§ 33.) This shows why every hasty repetition of the 

understand how thought can be embodied in written words ? 
Just as foolish would it be to reject the method which I 
have discovered for the cure of chronic diseases, on the 
ground that we do not comprehend the mysterious agency 
which that method involves. 
7 



159 

same remedy, or every new dose of another remedy, 
would produce an increase of morbid symptoms and 
interrupt the process of cure. It often requires a long 
time before so much mischief can be remedied.* 



* Note of the Translator : The explanation which Hahne- 
mann gives of the modus operandi of the homoeopathic drug, is 
not satisfactory. "With all due reverence for the great master of 
Homoeopathy, I take the liberty of offering the following re- 
marks relative to his explanation : — 

In § 29 of his " Organon," Hahnemann says, in explanation of 
the law svrmlia swalibus, " that every disease (which does not 
belong exclusively to surgery) being a purely dynamic and pe- 
culiar change of the vital powers in regard to the manner in 
which they accomplish sensation and action, a change that ex- 
presses itself by symptoms which are perceptible to the senses, 
it therefore follows, that the homoeopathic medicinal agent, se- 
lected by a skilful physician, will convert it into another medi- 
cinal disease which is analogous, but rather more intense. By 
this means, the natural morbific power which had previously ex- 
isted, and which was nothing more than a dynamic power without 
substance, terminates, while the medicinal disease which usurps 
its place, being of such a nature as to be easily subdued by the 
vital powers, is likewise extinguished in its turn. Leaving in its 
primitive state of and health tin I ince 

which animates and preserves the body." 

What is meant by M terminates" may be easily and clearly 
inferred from § 45 of the Organon. where Hahnemann discourses 
as follows : " Two diseases that differ greatly in their species, 
but which bear a strong resemblance in their development 
and effects — that is to say, in the symptoms which they pro- 
duce, always mutually destroy each other when they meet 
together in the system. The stronger annihilates the weaker; 
nor is it difficult to conceive h< - performed. Two dis- 

similar diseases may co-exist in the body, because their dis- 
similitude would allow of their occupying two distinct regions. 
But, in the present case, the stronger disease which makes itd 
appearance, exercises an influence upon the same parts as the 
old one, and even throws itself, in preference, upon those which 
have till now been attacked by the latter, so that the old disease 
finding no other organ to act upon, is necessarily extinguished. 
Or, to express it in other terms, as soon as the vital pov. 
which have till then been deranged by a morbific cause, are at- 
tacked with greater energy by a new power very analogous to 
the former, but more intense, they no longer receive any im- 
pression but from the latter ; while the preceding one, reduced to 



159 

If any given dose of a remedy should produce symp- 
toms which are not homogeneous to the symptoms of 

a mere state of dynamic power, without matter, must cease to 
exist. 

In the preceding paragraph it is distinctly stated that the ar- 
tificial disease cures the natural, on account of the former being 
stronger than the latter ; and it is also said that the natural disease 
reduced to a mere state of dynamic power without matter must 
cease to exist. 

The former of these assertions is too equivocal to be of any 
scientific value. If the natural disease has been powerful 
enough to reduce the organism to the last stage of vitality, how 
can we suppose, that a subversive agent which develops in the 
in a disease more powerful than the former, will not com- 
pletely destroy the organism ] Nor is the latter of those propo- 
sitions more intelligible. How can a thing which continues to 
be a " dynamic power" cease to exist? How can any thing 
which is "power" cease to exist] Such explanations have 
given rise on the part of the opponents of the homoeopathic system 
to objections like these : To cure a burn, you must burn the 
limb a little more ; to cure a simple fracture, you must make it 
compound. To be sure, such objections are absurd ; but they 
are justified by the incompleteness of Hahnemann's own ex- 
planations of his theory. ■ .^ 

Hahnemann seems to entertain the notion which many other 
physiologists, especially the vitalists, advocate, that the re- 
medial agent acts by making an impression upon the vital 
powers, and causing them to re-act by an increase of depression 
within conservative limits. This explanation is plausible, but 
not sufficient ; indeed, it is only the smallest portion of the true 
explanation of the homoeopathic method of cure. In my inau- 
gural thesis, published by Mr. Radde, 322 Broadway, I have in- 
dicated the true reasons why the homoeopathic remedy should 
exercise such a great influence upon the disease. The reasons 
which I have stated there, do, by no means, explain the inmost 
agency of the homoeopathic drug ; but they constitute, and will 
for ever constitute, the immoveable basis upon which the mys- 
terious workings of the homoeopathic remedial agent have to be 
investigated and explained. In my thesis I have demonstrated 
that every homoeopathic cure is a materialisation of that abnormal 
vital state which we call disease ; that the homoeopathic remedy 
acts by reducing the disease to its own natural order or form of 
existence, which is the medicinal substance ; and that the dis- 
ease leaves the organism by a compound force, first by virtue of 
the irresistibly attractive power which the medicinal substance 
exercises over the disease and by the consequent restoration ot 
free agency imparted to the vital principle. Hence, in the ho- 



160 

the disease, and if the mind of the patient should become 
more and more depressed, though the progressive in- 
crease of this depression may be very gradual, then the 
next dose of the same remedy may become very preju- 
dicial to the patient. Even if a remedy should produce 
a sudden great improvement in the condition of the pa- 
tient, there is danger that the remedy may have acted 
as a mere palliative ; in this case it never should be ex- 
hibited a second time, not even after other intermediate 
remedies. 

There are exceptions to this rule, which it is, how- 
ever, not the business of every beginner to discover.* 

A second dose of the same remedy may be given i?n- 
mediately after the first, when the remedy had been 
chosen with strict regard to its homoeopathic character, 
and had produced a good effect, but had not acted long 



mceopathic process of coring there is no forcing, the disease 
leaves the organism of its own accord, in i i dom, for the 

simple reason that the human organism is not its natural order 
of existence,* and that the nnMicinal substance is this order. 
Nor is the disease annihilated. On tin- contrary, it is developed 
by the medicinal substance into Ut ultima ; it is upon an 

ultimate physical type that all intellectual, spiritual and \ 
states of existence rest, whether they be normal 01 abnOfll 
the ultimate types of all abnormal vital states of existence an 
medicinal substances. 

* Nevertheless, the immediate repetition of the doses of 
one and the same remedy, has been much abused lately. 
The young homoeopathic physician finds it convenient to 
resort to this repetition, especially when the remedy has pro- 
duced some good effects in the beginning ; he imagines to 
hasten the cure by this repetition. 

It is the practice with many homoeopathic physicians to 
furnish the patient with several doses of the same remedy, 
advising him to take them at certain intervals according to 
his discretion. This is empiricism. The homoeopath ir 
physician ought to examine the symptoms every time he 
prescribes ; otherwise he cannot know whether the same 
remedy is indicated a second time, or whether a medicine 
is at all appropriate. 



161 

enough to cure the disease. This occurs but seldom in 
chronic diseases ; but it frequently occurs in acute dis- 
eases, and in those chronic diseases that border upon 
the acute. The same remedy may be given a second 
time, " when the improvement which the first dose had 
produced by causing the morbid symptoms gradually to 
become less frequent and less intense, ceases to continue 
after the lapse of fourteen, ten, or seven days ; when it 
becomes, therefore, evident that the medicine has ceased 
to act, the condition of the mind is the same as before, 
and. no new or troublesome symptoms have made their 
appearance. All this would show that the same remedy 
is again indicated" 

To secure the second dose a stronger action upon the 
disease,* it would be expedient to exhibit the same rem- 
edy in a lower potency, the dose being of the same mag- 
nitude.! By way of example, I may state that the erup- 
tion of the itch is one of those diseases which admit more 
readily than other diseases of an immediate repetition 
of the remedy, (sulphur,) but only when the eruption is 
quite recent ; for, in this case, it has somewhat the nature 



* If the remedy is perfectly homoeopathic, it may be dis- 
solved in about four ounces of water, by stirring it ; one- 
third of this solution is taken immediately, the second 
third in the morning on rising, and the last third the 
next day ; the solution may be stirred at each swallow, 
by which means the inherent power of the drug becomes 
more developed. This mode of exhibiting the remedy 
seems to secure it greater supremacy over the organism, in 
persons that are not too irritable or weak. 

"f If the 30th degree have been chosen first, the 18th 
may be used next ; then the 24th, after this the 12th, or 
6th, etc. ; these lower degrees are chosen when the chronic 
disease has assumed an acute character. It may also occur 
that the action of the remedy has been interrupted, and 
perhaps destroyed, by some important transgression of the 
dietetic rules, or some other cause ; in this case, if the 
above-named conditions are fulfilled, the same remedy may 
be repeated. 



162 

of an acute disease, and exhausts the curative power of a 
remedy in a shorter space of time ; in six. eight, or ten 
days. The second dose of the same remedy is to be 
given in the same quantity, but in a different degree of 
potency. Sometimes such a modification in the symp- 
toms may occur, as will make it necessary to alternate 
the sulphur with hepar sulphuris. If several doses of 
this latter remedy should be required, they are to be given 
in different degrees of potency, though always of the 
same magnitude. Sometimes even a dose of nux vomi- 
ca X., or of mercury x.>* may have to be given as an in- 
termediate remedy. 

Sulphur, hepar sulphuris, and sepia excepted, the other 
anti-psorics seldom admit of a favourable repetition of the 
same drug. This repetition is, moreover, unnecessary 
on account of the great number of anti-psorics which 
possess. One anti-psoric having fulfilled its object, the 
modified series of symptoms generally requires a differ- 
ent remedy. To repeat the same remedy for these mo- 
dified symptoms would be a censurable piece of daring. 
In cases of disease, which have been mismanaged by 
alloeopathic practice, it is often I ft at in- 

tervals sulphur or hepar sulphuris, according as either 
remedy is indicated. These remedies ought to be given, 
even when the patients had taken much sulphur, or had 
used sulphur-baths; in such cases, h< iose 

of mercury X. ought to be given first, before the sulphur 
is exhibited. 

Several anti-psorics arc generally required for the cure 
of a chronic disease. If the physician alternates his re- 
medies in rapid succession, this is a sure sign that he 
has not chosen his remedies with strict reference to their 
homoeopathic action, or has but carelessly studied the 
existing series of symptoms. The homoeopathic ph\ 
cian is very apt to commit this mistake in urging cases 
of both chronic and acute diseases, especially when the 

# It is a matter of course that the psoric patient should 
carefully avoid, during the treatment, the use of washes, 
brown soap, etc. 



163 

patient is dear to him. The practitioner cannot be suf- 
ficiently on his guard against this practice. 

By mismanagement like this, the patient's system be- 
comes so irritated that remedial agents seem to lose all 
their power over it,* and that the least medicinal influ- 
ence is sufficient to extinguish completely the last spark 
of irritability. Under these circumstances medicines 
cease to be useful ; but mesmeric action may succeed in 
calming the system. Let the palm of both your hands 
rest for about a minute upon the vertex ; then move 
them slowly down the body, across the neck, shoulders, 
arms, hands, knees, legs, feet, and toes. This pass may 
be repeated. 

Beside these passes, the irritability of the patient may 
also be soothed by directing him to smell of a globule 
moistened with the highest potency of the homoeopathic 
remedy. This globule is kept in a corked vial, the mouth 
of which being inserted in one of the nares, the patient 
takes one quick inspiration.! By smelling of the medi- 
cine the influence of any medicine may be communicated 
to the patient in any degree. There may be one or 
more globules in the vial. By increasing the number of 
inspirations the power of the medicine may be increased 
a hundred fold. The remedy acts just as powerfully by 
communicating its medicinal influence to the system 
through the nasal fossa and the lungs, as if a dose of the 
remedy had been swallowed. 

Such globules, when they are kept in corked vials, and 
protected from heat and sunshine, often preserve their 

* I have never seen a properly chosen homoeopathic re- 
medy producing no effect, when the treatment is properly 
conducted. Such a thing appears to me impossible. 

t This mode of inspiring the imperceptible emanations 
from the globule contained in the vial, benefits those who are 
born without the sense of smell, or who had lost it, as much 
as those who are endowed with the finest olfactory appara- 
tus. We may infer from this that the general nerves of 
sensation receive the impression of the remedial agent, and 
transmit that impression to the whole nervous system. 



164 

medicinal power for years. This kind of smelling of 
the remedy has great advantages in ihe ma: < nt$ 

which often interrupt and prevent the cure. To neutral- 
ize the consequences of such accidents, the patient may 
smell of the antidote. By this means it acts more pow- 
erfully upon the nerves, and affords the greatest use ; 
moreover, it does not establish any medicinal influence 
in the system which might be in the way of a cure. 
When the accident has been relieved by the process of 
smelling, it often happens that the anti-psonc remedy, 
which had been given before the accident occurred, c 
tinues to act for a certain time. To obtain this result 
for certain, the inspirations and the number of the glo- 
bules must be regulated with the greatest care, so as to 
prevent any undue medicinal action being created in the 
organism. 

If the patient should wish to take medicine every day,* 

* No popular habit, were it I an bo il 

ished all at once. This u son why tin- homoeopathic 

physician cannot a\ did nw iri£ to his patient 
day; though this appear^ 

is a good deal of diti .. i n i-t ra- 

tion of a powder and the allcpopathic practice. It 
groat blessing for the patient, in taking th< 
marked with successive mm ly when he has 

been predisp insl the mere rational method of C 

by the artful insinuations of calumniators, not to be ah! 
distinguish the powders containing (he medicine froip t| 
containing the p r of milk. If he knew that the 

medicine, of which he i hrillian j, is 

contained in any particul: im- 

posed upon by hu : be would imagine to experience 

effects which lie would set down as real, and he would be 
in a constant state of excitement. V>\ t< m which I 

propose, all thene eable coi led? 

The patient, who knows from exj that he need not 

expect any painful effects from the he tal 

calmly observes the changes which are really going on in his 
system, and reports to his physician facts, and not illusions. 
By taking a powder every day, the patient will expect the 




165 

the homoeopathic physician may give him every day a 
dose of sugar of milk of about three grains, all these 
powders being marked with successive numbers.* The 
sugar of milk is admirably adapted to this kind of inno- 
cent deception-! 

If the most troublesome symptoms of a chronic dis- 
ease, such as old, constant, acute pains, spasms or 

same effects from each. Of course, he ought not to know 
whether any or all of the powders contain medicine. 

* Patients who have firm confidence in the honesty and 
skill of their physician, will have no hesitation to be satisfied 
with a dose of sugar of milk, which may be exhibited every 
two, four, or seven days, agreeably to the wishes of the pa- 
tient ; such a course will never lessen their confidence. 

| There are hypercritical homoeopathic physicians who 
were afraid that even the sugar of milk might obtain medi- 
cinal qualities from being long kept in a bottle, or from long 
trituration. Long-continued experiments have convinced 
me that this apprehension is unfounded. Both the raw and 
the prepared sugar of milk may be taken as nourishment in 
considerable quantity without the least disagreeable symp* 
toms being experienced from it. Fears have also been en- 
tertained that, in triturating the medicinal substance in a 
porcelain mortar, particles might become detached from this 
latter, and that the triturating process might change them to 
powerfully active silicea, (f.) To ascertain whether such 
fears were founded, I caused one hundred grains of sugar of 
milk to be triturated with a new porcelain pestle in a porce- 
lain mortar, the bottom of which had been recently polished ; 
thirty-three grains were taken at a time. They underwent 
the process of trituration eighteen times, each trituration last- 
ing six minutes. Every four minutes the mass was stirred up 
with a spatula. The object of this frequently repeated tri- 
turation, which lasted in all three hours, was to impart me- 
dicinal qualities, either to the sugar of milk, or, at any rate, 
to the particles of silicea which might have been separated 
from the mortar ; but, from experiments which I have made 
upon highly susceptible subjects, I have been obliged to infer 
that the prepared sugar of milk is no more medicinal than 
the sugar in its raw state ; its only quality is that of being 
nutritious. 

7* 



166 

cramps, etc., disappear speedily and entirely, as if by 
magic, to such a degree as to make the patient suppose 
that he is entirely free from pain, and has almost recov- 
ered, this is no reason why the physician should flatter 
himself, that he has chosen an anti-psoric which will cer- 
tainly promote the cure. This deceptive success shows 
that the medicine has acted enantiopathically, as a mere 
contrarium or palliative, and that a considerable exacer- 
bation of the original disease will shortly show itself. 
As soon as this exacerbation sets in, it becomes neces- 
sary either to give the antidote of the previous remedy, 
or else, in case no such antidote should be known, to 
prescribe a new remedy which will act more homoeo- 
pathically. Such antipathic medicines seldom pro- 
duce good effects after an exacerbation has taken place. 
Some medicines produce effects and counter-effects. In 
this case, after an exacerbation has taken place, a se- 
cond dose of the same remedy may be given, which, 
by its antipathic action, will produce a permanent im- 
provement. 1 know this to be the case with ignatia. 

The exacerbation which is consequent upon an antipa- 
thic remedy? may sometimes be removed by means of 
a remedy which may be chosen to that effect from the 
materia medica, the archives of the homoeopathic art, 
or the annals. In a few days, the psoric will - 

resume its original form, when a new anti-psoric may be 
given. 

The following arc some of the accidents by which 
the cure of chronic diseases may be temporarily dis- 
turbed : immoderate eating, the effects of which D 
be remedied by eating thin broth and taking a ]ju] c , 
fee ; derangement of the stomach by eating fat in 
especially pork, (cured by : itilla ;) de- 

rangement of the stomach producing eructations i 
ing of the ingesta ; nausea and inclination to vomit (by 
the highest potency of antimonium crudum ;) coldness 
of the stomach, consequent upon eating fruit, (by smell- 
ing of arsenic ;) troublesome consequences of using 
spirituous drinks, (by mix vomica ;) derangement of the 
stomach with gastric fever, chills and coldness, (by 6ry- 



167 

onia ;) fright, (cured by opium, if this remedy can be 
administered immediately, and especially incases where 
fearfnlness is consequent upon fright; if the physician 
is called in late, or, if chagrin and fright are combined, 
aconite may be exhibited ; ignatia ought to be exhibit- 
ed when the fright is succeeded by sorrow ;) vexation 
producing anger, vehemence, an irritated state of mind, 
peevishness, (by chamomile ; if this peevishness is 
combined with chills and coldness, give bryonia ;) irri- 
tation combined with indignation, deep internal grief, 
(when the patient throws aside those things which he 
was just holding in his hands, by staphysagria ;) in- 
dignation with silent internal grief, (by colocynthis ;) 
unhappy love, with silent grief, (by ignatia ;) unhappy 
love with jealousy, (by liyosciamus ;) a violent cold, the 
patient being confined to his room or bed, (bv nux vom- 
ica ;) when the cold produces diarrhoea, give dulcamara ; 
when the cold excites pain, give coffea cruda ; cold 
with fever and heat, (by aconite ;) cold, accompanied 
with suffocating fits, (by ipecacuanha ;) cold with sub- 
sequent pain and a desire to weep, (by coffea cruda;) 
cold, inducing a loss of smell and taste, (by pulsatilla ;) 
straining in consequence of lifiing or walking, (by ar- 
nica, but with more certainty by rhus toxicodendron ;) 
contusions and wounds inflicted by blunt substances, (by 
arnica ;) burning of the skin, (by applications of water 
mixed wit.ii arsenic of the higher degrees of potency, 
or by applying for hours spirits of wine which have 
been heated in very hot water ;) weakness consequent 
upon the loss of blood or humours, (by cinchona ;) 
home-sickness with redness of the cheeks, (by capsi- 
cum.) 

During the treatment of chronic diseases we are of- 
ten required to use the other non-anti-psoric remedies 
constituting our materia medica. This is especially the 
case, when the patient is attacked with one of those 
intermediate diseases (morbi inter cur rentes,) which owe 
their origin either to malaria or meteoric influences. 
Bv these diseases the anti-osoric treatment is not only 
disturbed, but positively interrupted^ If our patient 



168 

should be attacked with such an epidemic or sporadic 
disease, the anti-psoric treatment ought to be entirely - 
pended as long as that disease lasts ; the cure of this dis- 
ease may sometimes require several weeks. If the inter- 
mediate attack is not too violent, the cure may sometimes 
be considerably abbreviated by causing the palient to 
smell of the homoeopathic non-anti-psoric remedy ; 
smelling is sometimes sufficient to produce recover. 

An intelligent homoeopathic practitioner will easily 
observe the period when the intermediate disease* has 



* These intermediate diseases are generally fev( • 
continuous acute fever, a slow remittent, or an intermittent 
fever; they may also be one of the permanent miafi 
small-pox, measles, dysentery, hooping-cough, etc. Inter- 
mittent fevers occur almost every year in a somewhat mod- 
ified form. Ever since I discovered and practised the - 
cessful treatment of chronic diseases by means of anti- 
psoric remedies, I have oba rred that intermittent fevers 
appear every year in a mora Of less modified form both as 
regards character and symptoms. The treatment ha<l to 
be varied accordingly. Arsenic, belladonna, antimonium 
crudum, spigelia, aconite, mix in alternation with ipeca- 
cuanha, sal ammoniacum, natrum muriatieum. opium, ema. 
either alone or in alternation with capsicum, or capsicum 
only, menyanthes tritbliata, calcarea carhonica, pulsatilla, 
carbo vegetabilis or animalis, arnica, or arnica in alter* 
nation with ipecacuanha, etc., have been used in different 
years, and effected a cure in a few days. I do nol Irish to 
exclude any of the other non-anti-psoric remedies provided 
they are indicated by the totality of the symptoms in the 
beginning as well as in the apyrexis of the symptoms, (S 
Von Bonninghausen, Essay on the Homoeopathic Treatment 
of Intermittent Fevers, 1833, Minister.) I should except, 
however, cinchona. To suppress the Ujpe of an intermit- 
tent fever by means of cinchona, large doses of this drug 
are required, even in its concentrated form, <piininc ; such 
large doses establish in the system an artificial morbid 
action which it is difficult to cure. Cinchona is only ho- 
moeopathic against the endemic intermittent fevers of marshy 
regions ; nevertheless they can only be cured by cinchona 



169 

left the patient, and the primitive chronic disease has 
resumed its course. 

It frequently happens that, after the intermediate dis- 
ease has left the patient, the symptoms of the original 
chronic disease appear a little modified ; sometimes 
even other parts of the body manifest morbid symptoms. 
In this case the homoeopathic physician will prescribe 
his remedy with strict regard to the existing symptoms, 
and will not give a remedy which he may have ima- 
gined to be the proper remedy, before a careful exami- 
nation had been instituted. 

Sometimes the physician is called to a patient affected 
with this intermediate disease, whom he had never 
before treated as a chronic patient. The fever having 
been subdued by those specific remedies which had 
been found available with other patients, the physician 
may nevertheless not be able to procure complete re- 
covery in spite of the most regular diet and mode of 
life. Other troublesome symptoms (generally called 
after -symptoms, after -diseases) will appear and will 
threaten to become chronic. These symptoms indicate 
the development of an internal psoric disease, and have 
to be removed according to the principles taught in this 
work. 



in conjunction with the anti-psorics. In epidemic inter- 
mittent fevers the treatment should always begin with a 
dose of highly-dynamised sulphur, or hepar sulphuris, if this 
remedy should be indicated. This medicine should be per- 
mitted to act until no farther improvement is observed. 
In a few days after the sulphur had been administered, the 
physician exhibits the non-anti-psoric remedy which is in- 
dicated by the character of the prevailing epidemic ; one 
or two doses may be exhibited, always after the termination 
of the attack. Sulphur or hepar sulphuris are exhibited 
before any other remedy is given, for this reason, that all 
epidemic intermittent fevers chiefly owe their existence to 
the psoric miasm. The previous action of sulphur or hepar 
sulphuris makes the subsequent treatment so much more 
6afe and easy. 



170 

I may here observe that the great epidemic diseases, 
such as : small-pox, measles, purpura, scarlatina, hoop- 
ing-cough, fall-dysentery, and other typhoid fevers, if 
they are improperly treated, and are permitted to com- 
plete their course, shake the organism so thoroughly, 
that the latent psoric miasm becomes roused in such 
patients and gives origin to cutaneous eruptions,* or to 
other chronic affections. Owing to the exhausted state 
of the organism, they often reach a high degree of in- 
tensity in a short while. If the patient should then die 
in spite of all the drugs which the alloeopathic physician 
gives him, the doctor declares that the patient has died 
of the effects of hooping-cough, measles, etc. 

These effects are nothing more than the visible con- 
sequences of the latent psoric miasm which may mani- 
fest itself in innumerable forms, and which never had 
been cured on account of its nature and mode of action 
having been unknown heretofore. 

The physician may now feel convinced that epidemic 
and sporadic fevers, as well a- miasmatic acute diseases, 
unless the patient recovers from both the diseases and 
their effects in a short while, require an anti-psoric 
after-treatment, even if a h pecific re 

edy should have been discovered and successfully em- 
ployed against them. For this purpose the inti- 
psoric is sulphur. This may only be given in case the 
patient should not have been put upon the use of that 
drug previously. If this should have been the case, an- 
other anti-psoric must be selected. 

* If these eruptions are numerous, aul 'I them 

scabies spontanea, (self-origi nating itch.) This is a mere 
chimera, a monstrum ; the itch has originated, time out of 
mind, in a contagious miasm, and cannot now originate 
without being caught. The so-called scabies spontanea 
merely the secondary phenomenal development of the 
internal psoric miasm, whose first manifestation upon the 
skin had either been repelled by external applications or 
had gradually disappeared of itself. This scabies spon- 
tanea often leaves the skin again very quickly ; we know 
not whether it is contagious* 



171 

The strikingly obstinate character of endemic dis- 
eases is due to some psoric complication, or the action 
of the psoric miasm modified by the peculiar influence 
of the locality and the peculiar mode of life of its inhab- 
itants. This is the reason why people from marshy 
regions, in spite of cinchona, drag their intermittent fe- 
vers even to healthier parts of the country, and do not 
recover till they have undergone an anti-psoric treat- 
ment. It is to the anti-psoric treatment that their re- 
covery is chiefly due. The marshy exhalations, espe- 
cially of hot countries, appear to be one of the most pow- 
erful excitants of the psoric miasm which is latent in 
the system ;*) without resorting to a thorough anti- 
psoric treatment, damp regions, so far from being in- 
habitable, will exercise a life-endangering influence. 
Man may accustom himself to the highest as well as the 
lowest temperature ; in both these temperatures he may 
be cheerful and healthy ; why should he not become 
acclimated in marshy regions as well as upon dry moun- 
tains, if there were not some secret enemy lying in am- 
bush, whose energies are roused into fatal action by 
the influence of marshy regions to the prejudice of all 
new settlers? This secret enemy is the psoric miasm. 
By stagnant waters and by the vapours which warm air 
causes to exhale from the damp or swampy soil, the 
psoric miasm is more certainly and more irresistibly 
roused than by any other physical influence, and is then 
developed into chronic diseases of all kinds, and espe- 
cially such as affect the liver. 

The symptoms w 7 hich have been recently developed 
by the inherent action of the psoric miasm, without 
having "been superadded by the mismanagement of the 
doctor, are the first to yield to the action of the anti- 

* The reason probably is, because those exhalations pos- 
sess the power of paralyzing the vital forces of the organ- 
ism and predispose this for the so-called putrid, and for 
nervous fevers. While in their normal state, the vital 
forces are able to keep down the psoric miasm which al- 
ways strives to get the upper hand. 



172 

psorics ; the older symptoms which have permanently 
existed disappear the last. Of this number are the lo- 
cal affections. These local symptoms only disappear 
after the general health has been completely restored. 
The general symptoms which show themselves period- 
ically, hysteria, the different forms of epilepsy, etc., may 
easily be suppressed by a suitable anti-psoric ; but the 
complete and permanent removal of those symptoms 
presupposes the radical cure of the whole of the inter- 
nal psoric miasm. 

The patient sometimes desires his physician to cure 
a certain troublesome symptom first of all ; this cannot 
be done, though the ignorant patient may be excused 
for having made such a foolish request. 

If the patient lives at a distance from his physician, 
the patient ought to be directed to underline in his 
written report both those older symptoms which had 
been suppressed for a time, and which have now re- 
appeared ; and all new symptoms which have come out 
this very day. The former symptoms are underh 
once, the latter twice. The former symptoms show that 
the anti-psoric remedy has attacked the disease in its 
foundation, and will be of great service in the radical 
cure of the disease ; the latter symptoms, on the contr 
if inordinately developed, inform the physician that the 
anti-psoric remedy is not quite homoeopathic, and ought 
to be replaced by a better one. 

About the period when the cure is half completed, 
the psoric miasm begins to become again latent ; the 
symptoms decrease more and more, until, at last, mere 
vestiges of the psoric miasm arc perceptible to the acute 
observer. But these too must be eradicated, for the 
least remains of a germ may eventually reproduce the 
full disease.* If we were to rely upon the disease cur- 
ing itself, as common people and even the better classes 



* In the same way, a polypus in the water, though seve- 
ral of its branches may lave been cut off, produces new 
branches in the course of time. 



173 

of the public do, we should be very much mistaken* 
For, little by little a new chronic disease is developed 
out of the remaining portion of the psoric miasm, and 
gradually conquers the organism. 

The patient may legitimately expect that he should 
be treated by any physician, especially, however, the 
homoeopathic doctor, according to the principle of Cel- 
sus, " tuto, cito et . jucunde," (safely, speedily and agree- 
ably.) This principle ought to hold good both in acute 
diseases originating in occasional causes, as well as in 
those periodical diseases which we designate by the 
term intercurrent (morbi intercurrentes.) 

As regards the short duration of the treatment of in- 
veterate chronic diseases, this is made impossible by 
the nature of the malady.* 

A great chronic disease may be cured in the space 
of one or two years, provided it has not been misman- 
aged by allceopathic treatment to the extent of having 
become incurable. One or two years ought to be con- 
sidered a short treatment. In young robust persons 
half this space of time is sufficient; in older people, on 
the contrary, this period has to be considerably pro- 
longed, in spite of the greatest care on the part of the 
doctor, and the strictest obedience on the part of the 
patient. If the patient consider that the psoric miasm, 
which the doctor is called upon to cure, without, how- 
ever, affecting the organism, has gradually ramified into 
its inmost recesses, then the patient will easily under- 
stand why the strictest mode of life on his own part, 
and the greatest attention on the part of the doctor 
should be required for a long period of time, in order to 



* No one but an ignorant quack can promise to cure an 
inveterate chronic disease in four or six weeks. He does 
not consider himself bound to keep his word. He risks 
nothing by making the disease worse by his treatment. 
Can he lose any thing? Honour perhaps? Indeed not, 
for his colleagues act like him. But conscience? Ala*, 
is not his conscience already lost ? 



174 

master this parasitical enemy that had assailed the most 
delicate roots of the tree of life. 

Jf the anti-psoric treatment be properly conducted, the 
strength of the patient ought to increase from the very 
beginning of the treatment. This increase of strength 
will continue during the whole treatment, until the or- 
ganism is completely freed from the enemy, and unfolds 
anew its regenerate life.* 

The best time for taking an anti-psoric remedy is in 
the morning before breakfast ; the evening is less appro- 
priate. The powder may either be taken dry upon the 
tongue, (in this case the medicine acts less powerfully,) 
and is kept upon the tongue until it is dissolved ; or else 
it may be moistened in a tea-spoon wilh two or three 
drops of water, and taken in this fashion. The patient 
should wait an hour, or at least half an hour, after ha\ 
taken the medicine before eating or drinking any thing.t 
The other powders are to be marked with succes- 
numbers. J 



* It is inconi that allcbopathic doctors should have 

continually assailed th im in th< onic 

. without having ev< n deterred by their bad 

success. The intermedi itte use of amara joined to cinchona, 

indu< ifiections without doin 

f To increase th 
in a larger quantity of quantity may still be 

m inte I, it* it i- desin 1 th i\ I \e eff ct should he in 
still more. The solution ma] I 1 1 into - 

one part beii \ two or three days* Every I 

when a part i^ taken, th- a i> stirred np again ; by 

this means the solution in 

more closely related to I >• It ia not advisable to 

give of the same solution for several days to come, for the 
reason that the arater b gins to spoil, if kept too long. I 
have shown above, how a dose is prepared for smelling in 
the various degrees of potency. 

J This marking of the powders with successive numbers 
has the advantage of enabling the physician to the 

effect which the medicine has produced. To accomplish 



175 

After having taken the medicine, the patient ought to 
remain quiet for an hour, without sleeping, however, 
(sleep retards the first effect of the medicine.) During 
this hour, as well as during the whole time of the treat- 
ment, the patient ought to avoid all contrary emotions, 
nor ought, he to fatigue his mind either by reading, or 
cyphering, writing, or by conversations that require 
much attention. 

The anti-psoric medicine should neither be taken im- 
mediately before, nor during the period of the menses ; 
it may, however, be taken on the fourth day? about nine- 
ty-six hours after their appearance. If the menses ap- 
pear too soon, are too abundant, or last loo long, the patient 
may, on the fourth dajr, smell of a globule of the highest 
potency of nux vomica ; four, five, or six days after this, 
the anti-psoric may be taken. If the female be extremely 
irritable and nervous, she ought to smell of such a glo- 
bule, even during the anti-psoric treatment, seventy-two 
hours after every appearance of the menses.* 

Pregnancy in every stage, so far from being an obsta- 
cle to an anti-psoric treatment, makes it, on the contrary, 
essentially necessary, and offers a brilliant sphere of ac- 
tion to anti-psoric remedies.! 



this, the patient must prefix to every report the number of 
the powder and the date when he took it. By this means 
the physician is enabled to compare the different reports. 

* In such irritable and nervous patients, whose menstrual 
functions are deranged, the anti-psorics would not do the 
least good, without the intermediate use of nux vomica. 
Nux is especially adapted to restore in such patients the 
harmony of the nervous functions, and to calm that exces- 
sive irritability which would be an insurmountable obstacle 
to the curative action of anti-psoric remedies. 

•f Is there a more adequate means to prevent the return 
of miscarriage, which originates almost exclusively in a pso- 
ric habit, except an anti-psoric treatment either before or 
during pregnancy ? In what way can we more effectually 
prevent the fatal circumstances which so often occur to the 
parturient woman, in spite of a proper presentation and na- 



176 

Daring pregnancy the anti-psoric treatment is more 
necessary than at any other period, because then the 
chronic ailments are more fully developed, the organ- 
ism and the mind of the pregnant female being highly 
susceptible of receiving impressions. During the period 
of pregnancy — which is altogether an essential and na- 
tural condition of the female — the action of anti-psoric 
remedies during that period is more marked and pre- 
cise.* This should be a warning to the physician to 
reduce his doses as much as possible, and to employ 
only the highest potencies. 

Sucklings never are given any medicine. The mother 
or nurse takes the remedy which is intended for the 
baby ; the medicinal effect is conveyed by the milk in a 
sufficient degree. 

When in chronic diseases the vital force is left to itself, 
it is only capable of shielding itself by pallia! linst 

the pernicious of the psoric miasm, and the 

acute d which that miasm develops from time 

to time. Such palliam ,uent secretions 

and evacuations which spontaneously occur in chronic 
diseases, diarrhoeas, vomiin . hemor- 

rhages, etc. All such palliatives produce only an appa- 



tural labour, than by a timely anti-psoric treatment daring 

pregnancy ? Is not the unnatural presentation of the child 
frequently owing to the psoric haint of the mother? Hy- 
drocephalus and other defects of the child always originate 
in psora. By subjecting the female to an anti 
merit cither before or during pregnancy, her incapacity for 
suckling her baby will he removed ; soreness of the nipp. 
soreness, accesses, and ery>ipclatous inflammation of the 
mamma\ and all uterine hemorrhages oomoqiieil upon 
weaning, are removed. 

* The reverse is sometimes the case. The female, who is 
constantly weak and complaining when she is no! pregnant, 
sometimes enjoys excellent health during pi 
in this condition of things anti-psoric remedies act very well. 
They ought to be given against the symptoms which existed 
before pregnancy. 



177 

rent alleviation of the primitive malady ; and, in fact, in- 
crease it on account of the great loss of nutritious hu- 
mours which the patient has suffered. 

The alloeopathic practice has been just as powerless 
in the treatment of chronic diseases as unaided nature. 
All that this practice has been hble to accomplish, ha3 
been, to imitate the palliating process of nature, with this 
difference, that the artificial secretions consequent upon 
alloeopathic drugs, inflict much greater losses upon the 
organism than natural evacuations do. So far from di- 
minishing the primitive disease, the alloeopathic practice, 
on the contrary, favours the universal ruin by its pre- 
tended dissolvants, purgatives, bloodletting, cupping, 
leeching, which is now in immoderate use, diaphoretics, 
blisters, setons, fontanels, issues, etc. 

God be praised, the homoeopathic physician has dis- 
pensed with the necessity of employing those barbarous 
and homicidal contrivances. He ought even to be 
watchful that the patient, carried away by the alloeopathic 
routine, may not employ them in secret during the treat- 
ment. The physician must positively forbid the patient 
ever to let blood, as he may have been in the habit of 
doing once a year, or to resort to cupping, purges, warm 
baths, etc. 

Homoeopathic physicians, who are masters of their 
art — and there are now many — never draw a single 
drop of blood ; he carefully avoids a process which 
weakens the patient, and is a sort of direct protest 
against cure. Only those homoeopathic doctors who are 
but half initiated into homoeopathic practice, feel obliged 
to resort to that sort of pseudo-curing, the bleeding pro- 



* Note of the Translator : No practitioner who has a 
clear perception of the homoeopathic principle and the nature of 
disease, will feel disposed to blame Hahnemann for using this 
condemnatory language. 

Disease, as I have shown in my preface, is not a negative 
something ; on the contrary, it is a positive existence, or we 
may call it an influence, an agency, or, if you please, a dynamic 
force, whose action, with respect to the genuine action of the 



178 

There is but one exception to this general condemna- 
tion of all artificial evacuations. At the beginning of 



harmonious vital principle, may be called, and in fact is 
sive. There is an order of subversive dynamic forces. There 
is an order of such subversive dynamic forces, which, in a B 
ner which is absolutely unknown to us, subdues the circulatory 
system and endeavours to adapt it vn nature and to 

govern it according to its own laws. By those sub\ rces 

the action of the circulatory system may either be unnaturally 
excited or depressed. 

Let us suppose that it has been unnaturally I'pon 

what principle should we bleed, in a 

If my idea of disease be correct, and, I may say that, althou 
it does not explain the inmost nature of d I it indicates 

general character — we must bleed the patient in the sup- 
position of depriving t! a of their sphere of 
tiVity in the Hut do we accomplish such a 
result by b I maintain that we do not. 

There is ai - (hud left, whi 

securest); a a hold upon the circul 

And then, is it not rational I , that th< 

having been violently deprived of tie- sphere of action which 
they had conquered for th< by virtue of their 

power, and which they now claim aa their Legitimate prop. 

they will net leave the system, but will rather me other 

organ ! I bare it in our power to diminish 

nine of blood, i> this a proof that by diminishing I 

blood we diminish the rioi ? Why 

should not tli. w themselves upon otb 

organism, since the organism is in their power, and it cannot be 

a difficult matter for those forces to choosi 

com ir princip in ? 

Tii "ion to hi tich 

shows the absurdity of such i remedy. Not onlj 

Torsive I main intact in th im — though 1 

willing to grant that they may be I 

ins of the animal economy than the circu , and 

may therefore, in some rai a or- 

ganism after a powerful depletion ; — but, on the other hand 
true or harmonious vital I | of their 

supportby every act of depletion. The vital fo mtlv 

engaged in restoring the losses which the or_Mns undergo by 
motion; this restoration is a process of assimilation which 
only be effected by means of the blood ; and this assimilative pro- 
cess continues as Long I < of the vital forces remains in the 
organism. Death ensues the moment that process stop- 



179 

the treatment, when the anti-psoric remedy has not had 
time to act, it sometimes happens that the patient can- 
let us consider for a moment. The blood is the material out of 
which the vital forces restore the metamorphosed organs. It is a 
self-evident truth that the vital forces, impressed with the necessi- 
ty of harmony from the divine fountain out of which they flow, 
will not assimilate more substance than the organs consume by 
motion. Hence, in an individual whose organs are bound by 
disease, there will be a disproportionate surplus of blood, which 
the vital powers will leave a prey to the subversive forces. A 
hold is thus secured to the subversive forces upon the organism. 
Unless the subversive forces are induced to relinquish that hold, 
their action might become fatal. The advocates of blood-letting 
suppose that the subversive forces can be separated from the cir- 
culating fluid by violently depriving those forces of what they 
consider their legitimate property. I have shown that this is 
extremely speculative and that it is much more probable that 
depletion will rouse the energies of the subversive forces to new 
and reiterate assaults upon the organism, than separate them 
from it. We know that such a separation does not take place, 
that the fever may be momentarily subdued by depletion, but 
that the subversive forces exhibit again their full action in pro- 
portion as the loss of blood is restored by the vital forces. 

But suppose this separation is effected, and the fever leaves 
the organism ] What will take place in the organism, if the vo- 
lume of blood which the vital principle had formed as the legiti- 
mate result of its activity, before the organism was assailed by 
disease, has been violently diminished 1 The enemy having de- 
parted, the vital principle will claim to be reinstated in the en- 
joyment of its former property, which was the organism in its 
normal state, and having attained a certain degree of develop- 
ment and power. But the vital principle finds itself deprived of 
the very material out of which the wants of the newly active or- 
gans can alone be supplied. Hence the vital principle is forced 
to satisfy its claims to the full exercise of its former power, as 
developed and embodied in certain organs, by first creating the 
necessary quantity of blood, and taxing for that purpose the very 
organs that require the restorative action of the vital principle, 
for the purpose of recovering the losses which they have under- 
gone by successive bleedings, and of attaining that degree of 
strength and fulness which they would have acquired by their 
natural development and activity, if disease had not invaded the 
organism. The organs demand, as it were, of the vital principle, 
that it should restore the damage which it had suffered disease 
to inflict upon them. This demand is made by them through 
that necessity of harmony, which maintains among all the organs 



180 

not pass his stools, and that this kind of constipation 
causes him some trouble. In this case, the physician 

a system of true and counter-balancing relations, and stimulates 
each organ to that degree of activity which is necessary to the 
maintenance and development of the individual life of the or_ 
and to the perfect restoration of its integrity and pr< 
growth, in case its harmonious life should have been disturbed 
by disease. 

All derivatives are essentially wrong, for this reason, that they 
destroy the basis which the organic viscera had worked out as 
the legitimate results and true ii. ions of their vital acti- 

vity ; it is in those results that the vitality of the onjans is em- 
bodied. We have no more right to destroy or diminish t: 
results than to take the property which a man has legitimately 
acquired through the free exercise of his various pov 

Blood-let ti ii <_ r is i hazardous process! originating in ignonu 
and speculation; no homoeopathic practitioner can resort to it 
without suffering himself to be classed am half ho- 

moeopathl a Hahnemann con 

which this innexed. 

What then is t<» }»• done LB 

The illustrious Hush felt that hi iled 

upon the practice i 

the prejudices of blood-letti , 4 * I 

have frequently irished to ■ substitute 

would with equal safety and o down the morbid 

excitement and action of the art ri l. At pn 

know of no sue!) r :nd, until 

to combat the preju inst bleeding, and to derive all 

the adrantages from it which have been mentioned.* 1 

The homoeopathic practitioner knows that we hate an abun- 
dance of remedies which will pi . and will in- 
variably and infallibly effect that separation of tnism and 
the feverishly-e\citinir sub -, which the va:\ 
processes of depletion accomplish either nerer or only after pro- 
tracted and repeated assaults up >n I Hut why do 
aconite, belladonna, phosphorus, etc., effect such a separation? 
Simply because these subtl die natural order or mode 
of existence, in the physical world, of those subi rces 
which, acting down upon this world of effects from the world of 
causes, h ;, hv means of an evil spirit or some other 
hostile influence, in introducing then ito the circulating 
fluid, exciting it to undue anion and producing that State of 
system which we call fever. Aconite, belladonna, phosphorus, 
coffea, etc., contain, and therefore are the natural or physical 
types of those subversive symptoms the aggregate of which we 
designate by the term fever. As soon as these types are intro- 



181 

may relieve him by prescribing an injection of pure, 
tepid water ; if one will not answer, he may prescribe 



duced into the organism, the subversive forces, being in the 
same inseparable connection with those types as cause and effect, 
are drawn to them, embody themselves in them and are, in this 
way, easily and of their own accord, separated from the or- 
ganism. 

There is a state of the system which is the opposite of what 
we commonly designate by the term fever : coldness, chills, 
thin and weak pulse. This state of the system evidently indi- 
cates the presence of subversive forces in the organism, which 
have depressed the action of the circulatory system. If blood- 
letting be the true mode of separating this part of the organism 
from the subversive forces, why do we not resort to that remedy 
in the condition of the system which I have supposed just now 1 
If, in this condition of the system, the advocates of depletion do 
not bleed, it is because they either do not know upon what prin- 
ciple they bleed at all, or because they bleed upon such fanciful 
principles that facts are all the time rebelling against them. 
The homoeopathist knows that this condition of the system 
corresponds to its types, bryonia, etc. 

To the advocates of blood-letting Hahnemann addresses the 
•following severe remarks in a note : " Beginners and learners 
may be pardoned for using depleting processes ; but if tjiey 
dare to pride themselves on their pretended improvements, and 
to promulgate blood-letting and cupping as processes that are 
eminently homoeopathic, then they make themselves ridiculous ; 
they ought to be pitied for their dabbling and for their bungling 
blindness, which inflicts suffering upon their patients. Is it 
laziness, or is it a foolish predilection for the pernicious routine 
of allceopathy, which prevents them from making themselves 
acquainted with the true homoeopathic remedy that always acts 
with certainty and success 1 It is only by means of persever- 
ing study, and indefatigable searching that the student of 
homoeopathy can penetrate to its inmost recesses and acquire 
that mastery of the science which is now possessed by some." 

Blood-letting and all the other violent allceopathic practices of 
artificial evacuation, are on a par with the system of corporeal 
punishment in education, and with the doctrine of self-sacrifice, 
or mortification of the passions from the standing-point of an 
absolute and irretrievable necessity. Those who profess such 
a doctrine, of course, will be in favour of blood-letting; those, 
on the contrary, who have faith in the integral goodness of hu- 
man nature ; who understand and feel that the true development 
of human nature is a free and unbounded evolution of all itg 

8 



182 

another in a quarter of an hour, and even a third ; this 
last will certainly act. This kind of injection is devoid 
of all mercurial influence ; it acts mechanically by dis- 
tending the rectum and may be repeated every three or 
four days, until the anti-psoric remedies shall have sue 
ceeded in regulating the process of intestinal evacuation. 
Next to sulphur Lycopodium acts most favourably under 
such circumstances.* 

Fontanelles should not be suddenly suppressed by 
the homoeopathic physician, if the patient has used them 
already for a long time, often for years. The anti-psoric 
treatment ought to have progressed already considerably 
before that suppression is accomplished. But already 
in the beginning of the treatment they mav be diminish- 
ed, if this can be done without suppressing them en- 
tirely. 

Physicians often incommode the patient by direct- 



genuine tendencies and forces, and w <• demonstrated Co 

their minds the glorious truth that human nat U 

therefore able to work out for itself a circumambient ord< 
thing! which will railed and in- 

most life, and a solemn and consecrated acknowh t all 

its manifestations: all such will look upon blood-Jetting with 
abhorrence, and will pi the doctrine that vital 

harmony cannot be the result of at and chaotic invasion 

of the constitution of man. 

* Note of the Translator : To produce this kind of 
mechanical distention, a tampon may ho inserted in the rectum, 
which sometimes acts very promptly and to the areat relief of the 
patient. A potato answers the purpose o( a tampon better than 
anything else. It may be cut in tie a wedge, and be 

gradually introduced into the rectum. To patients who are 
affected with chronic constipation I take the liberty of 
ing the following advice. Let them go to stool every morn 
either before or after breakfast, even when there is no occa- 
for it; let them bear down for a while, and continue this prac- 
tice for some days. In ninety-nine cases out of a hundred they 
will succeed in regulating their bowels in this way. But they 
must be careful of always going to stool at the same hour and 
even minute. It is a matter of course that the practice which I 
here recommend, is a mere adjuvans of the general treatment. 



183 

ing him to wear woollen fabrics upon the bare skin as 
preventatives against colds. These ought only to be dis- 
continued when the patient's susceptibility for catching 
cold has been considerably diminished by the anti-psoric 
treatment, and when the mild weather has set in. They 
may first be replaced by cotton, which produces less 
friction upon the skin, and excites it less than wool. 
Little by little the patient may be accustomed to wear 
linen upon the bare skin. 

There are many self-evident reasons, one of which is 
the delicate nature of homoeopathic drugs, why the ho- 
moeopathic physician should not permit the use of scents 
in any shape or manner, medicinal tea, mint, pastry, 
aniseed, bitters, liquors, lichen, spices of any kind, 
spiced chocolate, electuaries, tooth-tinctures, tooth- 
powders, and the various other fashionable com- 
pounds. 

Warm or hot baths cannot be permitted ; they always 
interfere with the treatment, and are, moreover, unne- 
cessary, if they are merely used for the sake of cleanli- 
ness. The body may be kept clean by washing it 
quickly with soap-water that has the temperature of the 
body. This kind of washing does not injure the effects 
of the anti-psoric treatment. 

In the first edition of this treatise I nave recommended 
to use the smallest possible electrical sparks for the pur- 
pose of aiding the anti-psoric treatment by animating 
those parts of the body which had been long affected 
w r ith paralysis or insensibility. I am sorry that this ad- 
vice should have been given. I know from experience 
that, so far from following it strictly, it has been con- 
stantly transgressed. Large sparks have always been 
used to thq great detriment of the patient, although it 
has been constantly asserted that they were as small as 
could be obtained. My advice now is, to abandon the 
use of sparks altogether. We should avoid the least 
suspicion of using enantiopathic aid, and then, we have 
an efficient homoeopathic local remedy for partial para- 
lysis or insensibility : cold water, from mountain sources 



184 

or deep wells * — (10° of Reaumur.) The water may be 
used conjointly with the anti-psorics. The parts may 
either be sprinkled with cold water every minute, or 
every two or three minutes ; or else the whole body may 
be sprinkled over with fine water, in the form of dust, 
for one, two, three, or five minutes. This sprinkling 
may be resorted to more or less frequently according 
to circumstances, once or several times. 



THE REMEDIES 

That have been found most efficacious in the treatment 
of chronic diseases, shall be described in the subsequent 
volumes according to the symptoms which they are 
capable of producing upon the healthy organism. I 
shall point out those which may be given again*! i 
eases of psoric origin, the syphilitic diseases, and the 
diseases from sycosis. 

The remedies against syphilis and sycosis are much 
less numerous than those against psora. This is no 
reason with the intelligent observer why psora should 
not be a chronic miasm and the head-fountain of most 
chronic diseases. 

It is not astonishing that the psoric miasm, having 
spread for thousands of years through millions of or- 
ganisms all of which differ in constitution and are ex- 
posed to a variety of influences, should have produced 
that host of chronic diseases which become manifest by 
the suppression of the psoric eruption upon the skin, 
whether that suppression be the result of violent ex- 

* Water of thi§ temperature, or still lower, possesses the 
primary power of diminishing the sensibility and mobility 
of the living body ; hence it may afford homoeopathic aid 
in the treatment of paralysis or insensibility. 



189 

ternal contrivances or of some accidental concussion of 
the system. 

Owing to these causes the psoric miasm has succeed- 
ed in ingrafting its parasitical existence upon the or- 
ganism, and has produced varieties which always betray 
their common origin, but all of which are distinguished 
by some peculiar properties. These varieties depend 
either upon the physical differences of clima and abode, 
or upon the different modes of life of the psoric pa- 
tients.* Id the impure air of cities children become af- 
fected with rickets, spina ventosa, ramollissenient of the 
bones, curvatures, cancer of the bones, tinea capitis, 
scrofula, ring-worm ; in full-grown persons there are 
nervous affections, nervous irritability, gout of the joints, 
etc. The various chronic affections originating in the 
psoric miasm, and assuming so many different forms 
on account of the constitutional differences of patients and 
the different physical influences to which they are ex- 
posed, require, for their radical cure, the use of a large 
number of anti-psorics. 

I have often been asked the question by what signs 
an anti-psoric remedy may be recognised beforehand ? 
There are no such external visible signs. The remedial 
virtue of certain remedies in psoric affections has been 
revealed to me by trying those remedies upon the 
healthy organism. Some of them were known to possess 
curative powers which seemed to me to hint at the 
anti-psoric character of the remedies. In Poland, for 
instance, the herb lycopodiurn is reputed to prove 
curative in trichiasis ; hence I inferred the anti-psoric 

* In Norway and in the north-west of Scotland we have 
the Sibbens or Rade-Syge ; in Lombarcly Pellagra ; in 
Poland and Carinthia koltum or trichiasis ; the leprous 
tumours of Surinam ; the raspberry-like excrescences of 
Guinea, known there by the name of yaws, and in America 
by that of pian ; in Hungary the exhausting fever called 
tsomor; in Virginia the asthenia virginensium ; goitre in tho 
valleys of the Alps, etc. 



186 

virtues of the pollen in similar diseases. I suspected 
the anti-psoric nature of the common table-salt from the 
fact that hemorrhages had been arrested by that sub- 
stance when given in large quantities. In former tii; 
alreadv it was known that venereal diseases complicated 
with the psoric miasm, could not be cured by mercury 
unless this miasm had first been removed by means of 
guai'acum, sassaparilla or mezereum. 

As a general rule I have found that most of the earths, 
alkalis, and acids, and their salts, together with several 
metals, are indispensable to the cure of the innumerable 
symptoms of the psoric miasm. The similarity of action 
existing between sulphur, phosphorus, and other com- 
bustible substances from lh< '>lc and the mineral 
kingdom, led me to rank all these substances in the same 
family with the chief ami-psoric remedy, which is sul- 
phur. Analogy of action has also induced me to add 
some animal substances. 

Generally however, only such remedies have been 
arrayed under the head of anti-psorics, as have developed 
in the healthy organism symptoms anal > those, 

which were known to emanate from repelled itch. In 
proportion as our knowledge of the pure effects of med- 
icinal substances increases, we may find it m 
to add a few more remedies to the am - which 

are now known. Nevertheless, with the anti-psorics 
that are now known, we are able to cure all seconc 
psoric diseases provided the patients have not been 
overwhelmed by large portions of allo*opathic drugs, or 
too great a depression of the vital forces or other un- 
favourable causes do not make the cure impossible. 
There are certain conditions occurring in psoric diseases, 
where the other homoeopathic remedies, even nicrcury 
not excepted, become indispensable. 

The peculiar mode adopted for the preparation of 
homoeopathic remedies, enables us to develop the me- 
dicinal virtues of a drug into a series of degrees of poten- 
cy, and bv this means, to adapt the remedial influence 
of the drug with great precision to the nature of the 
disease. Some of those drugs do not seem to have 



187 

many medicinal properties in their unprepared form, 
(such as common salt, lycopodium ;) others, (such as gold, 
silicea, argilla,) do not seem to possess any. But their 
medicinal properties exist in a latent state, and may all 
be developed to a high degree by the peculiar mode of 
preparation prescribed by homoeopathy. Other sub- 
stances, on the contrary, act so powerfully in their natu- 
ral form that the smallest portion of them, upon com- 
ing in contact with the animal fibre, exercises a cor- 
roding and destructive action upon it ; such substan- 
ces are arsenic, corrosive sublimate, etc. By the ho- 
moeopathic mode of preparing those substances, their 
otherwise powerful action is suitably modified by being 
developed into a series of degrees of potency, many of 
which were never known before. 

The alteration which is effected in the properties of 
natural substances, especially medicinal substances, 
either by triturating or shaking them in conjunction 
with a non-medicinal powder or liquid, is almost mar- 
vellous. This discovery is due to homoeopathy. 

Beside this alteration of their medicinal properties, 
the homoeopathic mode of preparing medicines pro- 
duces an alteration in their chemical properties. Where- 
as, in their crude form, they are insoluble either in water 
or alcohol, they become entirely soluble, both in water 
and alcohol, by means of this homoeopathic transfor- 
mation. This discovery is invaluable to the healing 
art. 

The brown-black juice of the sea-insect sepia, which 
was formerly used only for painting and drawing, is 
soluble in water only, while in its unprepared form. 
When homoeopathically prepared by trituration, it be- 
comes also soluble in alcohol. 

Nothing can be extracted from petroleum by means 
of alcohol, except when that drug is adulterated with 
vegetable ethereal oil ; in its unadulterated form, petro- 
leum is neither soluble in water nor in alcohol, (nor 
ether.) By means of trituration it becomes soluble in 
both those substances. 

Lycopodii pollen floats in alcohol and on the surface 



188 

of water, without either of these substances having the 
least effect upon the drug ; lycopodium in its crude 
state, on being introduced into the stomach, is both 
tasteless and inactive. Trituration makes it soluble in 
both alcohol and water, and develops such a powerful 
medicinal action in the drug that its use requires great 
care. 

Who ever found marble or the shell of an oyster 
soluble in water or alcohol? This mild calcarea, as 
well as baryta carbonica, and magnesia, become per- 
fectly soluble by means of the ho hie pro( 
of trituration, which, moreover, develops their medi- 
cinal powers to an astonishing degree. 

No one will feel disposed to suspect that quartz, 
rock-crystal, — some of those crystals containing drops 
of water which had been enclosed there unaltered for 
thousands of years, — or white sand, are soluble in 
ter or alcohol, or are endowed with medicinal proper- 
ties. However, silica may be in ible DOtb in 
waier and alcohol by triturating it after it had first I 
melted by moans of an alkali, and then precipitated 
again from that compound.* \)\ this process, the me- 
dicinal properties of silica I reloped to an ah 
infinite extent. 

All metals and sulphurets become soluble in ale 
and water, after having undergone the I ithk 

mode of preparation, by m< which their medici- 

nal virtues are also fully, yea, infinil 

The medicinal chemical substances which I 
thus prepared, are no longer subject to chemical laws. 

A doscof phosphorus o? the high 
main for years enclosed in its paper in a desk, without 

* Quartz, or silica, unless they have fir-t undergone this 
preparation will not show any medicinal prop rties. This 
is the reason why medicinal substances may be triturated 
in the porcelain mortar together with tin non-medicinal 
sugar of milk, without any silica becoming mixed with it. 
Some hyper- critical homceopathists have apprehended such 
a result. 



189 

losing its medicinal properties, or even changing them 
to those of phosphoric acid. 

A remedy which has been elevated to the highest 
potency, and, by this means, has become almost spirit- 
ualized, is no longer subject to the laws of neutraliza- 
tion. Highly dvnamized natrum, ammonium, baryta, 
calcarea, magnesia, when taken into the system, cannot, 
like their bases, be changed to neutral salts by acetic 
acid ; their medicinal properties are neither changed 
nor destroyed. 

The homoeopathic preparation of nitric acid, provid- 
ed it is taken in a sufficient quantity, is not affected by 
a little crude calcarea, or natrum ; its strong specific 
action remains the same. 

All those homoeopathic drugs which constitute the pure 
materia medica,* are prepared in the manner pointed 



* Vegetable substances which can only be had dry are 
triturated in the same way. The millionth trituration may 
then be dissolved, like all the other substances, either in 
water or alcohol. In this state they may be preserved much 
better and longer than the common tinctures which easily 
spoil. Of the juiceless vegetable substances, oleander, 
thuya, mezereum, you may take one grain and a half, the 
fresh leaves, bark, roots, etc., and convert them to the mil- 
lionth trituration with three times one hundred grains of 
sugar of milk. Of this trituration you take one grain and 
carry it through the vials, obtaining in this way. any de- 
gree of potency that may be desired. Shake each vial 
twice, first carrying the arm up, then down. The same 
process of trituration may be resorted to in regard to the 
recently obtained medicinal juices. Squeeze the juice out 
of the substance, triturate one drop of it with the necessa- 
ry quantity of sugar of milk to obtain the millionth tritu- 
ration. Of this you take one grain, dissolve it in a mix- 
ture of half water and half alcohol, and then carry a drop 
of this mixture through the series of the twenty-seven 
vials, obtaining in this way the degree of potency tfiat is 
desired. By triturating the juice first, the medicinal vir- 
tues of the drug are better developed than bv simply mix- 
8 # 



190 

out below ; the following anli-psorics come under this 
remark :* silica, barita carbonica, calcarea carbonica, 
natrum carbonicum, ammonium carbonicum, magnesia 
carbonica, carbo vegetabilis, carbo animalis, graphites, 
sulphur, antimonium crudum, antimonium, gold, pla- 
tina, iron, zinc, copper, silver, tin, — lumps of those 
metals, not the foil, are triturated upon a hard, fine, 
grinding-stone under water, or sometimes under alcohol, 
like the iron. Of these pulverized substances, j 
take one grain ; mercury may be used in the liquid 
state ; of petroleum, you take one drop instead of one 
grain. Pour this grain into a non-glazed porcelain 
mortar, having before covered the bottom of it with 
sand slightly moistened and triturated. Then you take 
thirty-three grains of sugar of milk, and mix them with 
the drug by triturating the mass with some force for 
about six minutes by means of a porcelain pestle ; be- 
fore you triturate, stir the mass for a little while with a 
spatula. Haying triturated the mass, you stir it again 

for about four mini .]> that part which 

covers the bottom of the porcelain mortar, and also that 
which is adherent to the pestlcf ; then you triturate 
again with great force for six minutes, without however 
adding anything new. This mass yon scrape up aizain, 
for four minutes, add another thirty*three grains « 
of milk, stir the new compound fol a moment with the 

ing the juice with the alcohol by means of two .shakes. I 
know this from experience* 

* Phosphorus, which ii ly oxydned in the open 

air, is dynamized in the same manner, and may be dis- 
solved in both liquids. There are SOUK 
rules to be observed, which will be pointed out below. 

"f When the process of trituration is completed) mortar, 
pestle, and spatula, are to be repeatedly immersed in boil- 
ing water, being carefully wiped and dried after each im- 
mersion. The mortar, pestle, and spatula, may then 
exposed to a heat which would make them red-hot. Tins 
will suffice to satisfy even the most anxious mind- thai no 
atom of the medicinal substance has remained adhering to 
either mortar, pestle, or spatula. 



191 

spatula, then triturate it for six minutes witn the pestle, 
scrape it up for four minutes, triturate again with great 
force for six minutes, scrape the mass up again for four 
minutes, then add the last thirty-three grains of sugar 
of milk, and with this last added portion proceed as 
with the two former. This powder you enclose in a 
well-corked glass, and mark it with the name of the 
substance, and the figure loo, to show that this is the 
one hundredth potency of the substance.* 

In order to prepare the degree loooo, you take one 
grain of the degree Too and add to it thirty-three grains 
of sugar of milk. Stir up this mass for a moment with 
the spatula. Then triturate it for six minutes, stir it up 
for four minutes, triturate again for six minutes, and then 
stir up again for four. After this you add the second 

* The preparation of the one hundredth potency of phos- 
phorus by pulverisation requires some modifications. First 
you take one hundred grains of sugar of milk, and, by means 
of fifteen drops of water you make them into a sort of 
dough or pap in the mortar. Then you cut one grain of 
phosphorus into twelve pieces, kneading them into a dough 
by means of the moistened pestle, together with the one hun- 
dred grains of sugar of milk, the portions of the mass which 
remain adhering to the pestle being scraped off again while 
the process of kneading is carried on. In this way the 
phosphorus molecules may be triturated during the first two 
periods of six minutes each, into invisible atoms without a 
spark being elicited. During the third period of six 
minutes, the mass being sufficiently pulverised, the kneading 
may be replaced by trituration. During the next eighteen 
minutes the process of trituration is carried on with mo- 
derate force, the mass being scraped up every six minutes ; 
this scraping can be easily accomplished on account of the 
mass being but slightly adherent either to the mortar or the 
pestle. After the sixth trituration the powder shines but 
feebly in the open air, and has but little smell. It is then 
enclosed in well corked vials and marked Phosphorus 100- 
The next two degrees of potency lTRToo and f are prepared 
in the same way as th*ose of the other dry medicinal sub- 
stances. 



192 

thirty-three grains of sugar of milk, proceed then as 
before ; afterwards add the last thiriy-three grains of 
sugar of milk, stir up and triturate again as betore, and 
enclose the mass in a well cor ked vial marked 10000. 

To prepare the degree loboooo or I, you take one 
grain of the degree loooo, and go through the processes 
of stirring and triturating in the same way as before, 
employing upwards of an hour for the preparation of 
each different potency. 

For the sake of establishing a sort of uniformity in 
preparing homoeopathic remedies, and especially the 
anti-psorics, I never carry the process of trituration 
above the million degree. From this degree I derive the 
solutions in their various degrees of potency. 

For the process of trituration a certain force should 
be employed ; not too much, however, to cause the mass 
to adhere too tenaciously to the mortar to be scraped 
up in the space of four minutes. 

From the million degree of trituration the solutions.* 
in the various lained b) ring 

these triturated substances in alcohol or water. ( 
mistry is not acquainted with the fact that all substances 
after having been triturated up to the million . can 

be dissolved either in alcohol or water. 

Sugar of *milk cannot be die in pure alcohol; 

this is the reason why the first solution should be com- 
posed of one half water and one half alcohol. 

To one grain of the million trituration you add fifty 
drops of distilled water, and turn the v: 
around its axis. By this means th< of milk 

becomes dissolved. Then you add fifty drops of good 



# In the beginning of my practice I pave a small portion 
of a grain of the millionth trituration 1 1 Hut the un- 

certainty of this mode of exhibiting the remedy, led me to 
thediscovery of preparing the solution, and to the Dseofthe 
globules, any definite number of which may ho moistened 
with the dissolved drug. Homoeopathy being based upon a 
law of nature, it should avoid and exclude all uncertainties. 



193 

alcohol,* and shake the vial twice, first carrying the arm 
up and then down. Only two thirds of the vial ought 
to be filled with the solution. f 

This vial is then marked with the name of the medi- 
cine, and the number iuo I. Of this solution you take 
one drop, and mix it with 99 or 100 drops of pure alco- 
hol, shaking the vial twice after it has been corked. 
This vial is marked joouo I. Of this solution you again 
take one drop, mixing it with 99 or 100 drops of pure 
alcohol. Then shake the vial twice, and mark it louoo I. 
Of this potency you again t$ke a drop, and mix it with 
99 or 100 drops of pure alcohol, shaking this third vial 
twice, and marking it IT. In the same way you con- 
tinue the preparation and marking of the higher poten- 
cies too II, 10000 II, fil4 The intermediate vials are 
put in perpendicular boxes, and are kept in the dark in 
order not to be affected by the light of day. In practice 
only the full vials are used. 

The shaking being accomplished by means of mode- 
rate strokes with the arm, it is expedient that the vials 
should be large enough to have only two thirds of their 
volume filled with the hundred drops. Vials that have 



* These quantities are measured by means of vials which 
contain exactly fifty drops. It would be too tedious to 
count fifty drops of water, especially when the water does 
not flow easily out of the vial. 

f It is well to provide the vial with a mark stating the 
number of shakes and the date when the solution was pre- 
pared. 

X Frequent observation has convinced me that it is better 
to shake the vials twice only in order to develop the me- 
dicinal virtue of the drug just enough to affect the disease 
in a proper manner. By shaking the vial ten times as I 
was in the habit of doing, the proportion between the pro- 
gressively developed intensity of action of the medicinal 
properties of the drug and the degree of the potency was 
destroyed in favour of the former. The object of the 
dynamising process is to develop the intensity of action of 
the medicinal properties of the drug, at the same time as 



194 

contained one medicine ought never to be used for any 
other, even if they should have been previously rinsed 
ever so much. 



The globules of sugar of milk should be prepared of 
the same magnitude all over the world. I use them of 
the size of a grain of flaxseed. By establishing uniform- 
that action is reduced to a milder tone. Two shakes "are 
sufficient to establish the true proportion between these two 
effects. 

The degrees of potency may be indicated in various 
ways, thus : — 

i 
100 



The first degree, 
Tho second degree, 
The third degree 
The fourth degree, 
The fifth degree, 
The sixth degree, 
The seventh degree, 
The eighth degree, 
The ninth degree, 
The tenth degree, 
The eleventh degree, : 



100 



i 

10000 

1 

1000000 

1 

100000000 

1^ 

10000000000 

1 

1000000000000 

1 



10000 or 100 (?) mann- 
ing hundred multiplied 

I or 100 (3) 

100 I or 100 (4) 



lOOOUOOOOOOOOOO 

1 

10000000000000000 

1 

1000000000000000000 

I 

100000000000000000000 

J 

KXM KXKXKKWOOOOOOOOO 

1 



10000 I 


or 


100 (5) 


n 


or 


00 


(6) 


100 


Ti 


or 


100 (7) 



10000 J I or 100 (8) 
III or 100 (9) 



100 III or 100 (10) 



10000 III or 100 (11) 
IIII or 100 (12) etc. 



ine twelith degree, 10 ooooooooooih)ooooooooooo 

[Added by the translator.] 



195 

ity both in- the preparation and exhibition of medicines* 
the homoeopathic physicians will be enabled to compare 
with great certainty the results which they may obtain 
in their practice. 

The globules are moistened with the liquid in this 
way. A vessel of the size of a thimble, made either 
of earthenware, china, or glass, is filled with globules 
weighing in all a few grains ; upon these you drop several 
drops of the medicine, taking a few drops more rather than 
less, in order to make sure that the liquid has reached the 
bottom of the vessel, and all the globules have been moist- 
ened. This process may last about a minute. The ves- 
sel is then turned over upon a double sheet of blotting 
paper ; if any of the liquid should remain in the vessel, 
it is poured upon the globules, that will be found adher- 
ing to each other like a cone. After a while the globules 
are spread upon the paper, and dried. When dry, the 
globules are filled in a glass vial, which should then be 
well corked and marked. 

The globules having been moistened with the liquid, 
they obtain a faint appearance. The non-moistened 
globules look whiter and more shining. 

In order to take the globules you first prepare a cap- 
sule of white paper, filled with two or three grains of 
.sugar of milk. The globules having been deposited in 
this sugar, the upper surface of the capsule is pressed 
upon with a spatula or the nail of the thumb, until the 
globules are crushed ; the powder may then be easily 
dissolved in water. 

When I speak of globules, I mean those mentioned 
above, two hundred of which, or thereabout, w T eigh a 
grain. 



In the subsequent list of anti-psoric remedies no iso~ 
pathic remedies are mentioned, for the reason that their 
effects upon the healthy organism have not been suffi- 
ciently ascertained. Even the itch miasm, (psorin) in 
its various degrees of potency, comes under this objec- 



196 

tion. I call psorin a homeopathic anti-psoric, because 
if the preparations of psorin did not alter irs nature to 
that of a homoeopathic remedy, it never could have anv 
effect upon an organism tainted with that same identical 
virus. The psoric virus, by undergoing the processes of 
trituration and shaking, becomes just as much altered in 
its nature as gold does, the homoeopathic preparations of 
which are not inert substances in the animal economy, 
but powerfully acting agents. 

Psorin is a simUUmum of the itch virus. There is no 
intermediate degree between idem and simillimum ; in 
other words, the thinking man sees that simillimum is 
the medium between simile and idem. The only defi- 
nite meaning which the terms M isopathic and aequale" 
can convey, is that of simillimum ; they arc not i 



DEFINITION 



OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TECHNICAL TERMS CONTAINEP tit 
THIS VOLUME. 



(Some of these definitions have been copied from Hooper's Dictionary.) 



Adipose tissue, — see tissue. 

Adventitious, — any thing that accidentally, and not in the 
common course of natural causes, happens to make a 
part of another. It is used in medicine in opposition to 
hereditarv. 

Allceopathy, — under this denomination Hahnemann ranges 
all those medical theories that are based upon principles 
different from his own doctrine. 

Amenorrhcea, — accidental cessation of the menstrual flux. 

Anasarca, — a species of dropsy from a serous tumour, 
spread between the skin and flesh. 

Aneurism, — a pulsating tumour formed by the dilatation of 
an artery. 

Atrophy, — nervous consumption. This disease is marked 
by a gradual wasting of the body, unaccompanied either 
by a difficulty of breathing, cough, or any evident fever, 
but usually attended with a loss of appetite and impaired 
digestion. 

Bursa mucosa, — a mucus bag, containing a kind of mucous 
fat. These bursas are generally found where tendons 
or muscles glide over bones. By means of those bursal, 
tendons and muscles glide easily over the bones. 

Cataract, — a species of blindness, arising almost always 
from an opacity of the crystalline lens or its capsule, 



198 

Cornea, — the thick and transparent part of the eye, placed 
between the two lids. 

Coryza,— running at the nose. 

Chlorosis, — green sickness, a species of disease which 
affects young females labouring under a retention or 
suppression of the menses. 

Carcinoma, — or cancer. 

Crusta lactea, — this disease mostly attacks some part of the 
face of infants at the breast. It is known by an erup- 
tion of broad pustules, full of a glutinous liquor, which 
form white scabs when they are ruptured. 

Diabetes, — an immoderate flow of urine. 

Diaphoretics, — a class of remedies which increase the dis- 
charge by the skin. 

Degeneration, — a morbid alteration of some organic 

Dysuria, — suppression or difficulty in discharging the urine. 

Ecstasy, — a trance* 

Empyema, — a collection of pin in the cavity of the thorax. 

Enantiopathic, — the same as ritoopatl 

Enuresis, — incontinence of 111 

Endemic, — a di| d that is peculiar to a 

certain class of persons, or country . The goitre u 
demical to the inhabitants of certain low regions in 
Switzerland. 

Epistaxis, — bleeding from the D 

Epizootic carbuncle, — a S] anthrax common to the 

larger mammalia. In man it form- on the neck, 

or back, and, in a fen i e highly gangrenous. 

Erysipelas. — the rose or St Anthony's fire. This disease 
is an inflammatory affection of the skin or of the mucous 
membrane. 

Exanthema, — an eruption of the skin. 

Expectorants, — a class of medicines .which increase the 
discharge of mucus from the lug 



199 

Fistula, — a term in surgery applied to a long and sinuous 
ulcer that has a narrow opening, and which sometimes 
leads to a larger cavity, and has no disposition to heal. 
Fistula may be formed in the lower part of the rectum, in 
the bladder, in the inner canthus of the eye, etc. 

Fomentations, — a sort of partial bathing, by applying hot 
flannels to any part, dipped in medicated decoctions, 
whereby steams are communicated to the parts, and their 
vessels are relaxed. 

Fontanelles, — the French name for artificial issues. 

Fungus hematodes, — bleeding fungus, also called soft 
cancer or medullary sarcoma. It attacks most parts of 
the body, particularly the eye, breast, testicle, and the ex- 
tremities. It begins with a soft enlargement of the part, 
which is extremely elastic and, in some cases, painful. 
As it increases, it often has the feel of an encysted 
tumour, and at length becomes irregular, bulging out 
here and there. When it ulcerates, it bleeds, and shoots 
up a mass of a bloody fungus. 

Gland, — an organic part of the body, composed of blood- 
vessels, nerves and absorbents, and destined for the se- 
cretion or alteration of some peculiar fluid. 

Glaucoma, — a cataract of the crystalline lens. 

Goitre, — an enlargement of the thyroid body in front of 
the trachea. 

Gutta serena, — a diminution or total loss of sight, arising 
from a paralytic affection of the retina and optic nerve. 

Hematemesis, — vomiting of blood from the stomach. 

Hematuria, — hemorrhage from the bladder. 

Hemoptysis, — spitting of blood from the lungs. 

Hemorrhoids, — or piles, excrescences arising from the in- 
ferior part of the rectum. They are divided into bleeding 
and blind piles. 

Hernia, — a rupture, or a protrusion of a part of the intestine. 
The places in which this protrusion most frequently 
takes place, are the groin, the navel, the labia pudendi, 
and the upper and forepart of the thigh. 



200 

Herpes, tetter, — a genus of disease distinguished by an as- 
semblage of numerous little creeping ulcers, in clu- 
itching very much, and difficult to heal ; they terminate 
in furfuraceous scales. 

Humerus, — the long bone of the upper-arm. 

Hysteria, hysterics, — a disease common to females. The 
disease attacks in paroxysms or fits. 

Hypochondria, — those parts of the body, which lie under 
the cartilages of the spurious ribs. 

Idiopathic, — this name is given to diseases originating in 
some peculiar and distinct miasm. 

Inoculation, — the insertion of a poison into any part of the 
body ; it was mostly practised with that of the small-pox. 

Ischuria, — a suppression of urine. 

Issue, — an artificial ulcer made by cutting ■ portion of the 
skin, and burying a f» me other substance in it, so 

as to produce a discharge of purulent matter. 

Leucorrhern, — the whites, a secretion of whitish or milky 
mucus, from the ragina of women* 

Lypoma, — a solitary, soft, unequal, indolent tumour, aril 

from a luxurianey of adeps or fat in the cellular m« in- 
branc. 

Menorrhagia, — an immoderate flow of the menses. 

Mollities ossium, or ramollisBomont of the bon< 

of the hones, arising from B want of the phosphate of 
lime. In children tin called the ric! 

Muscae volitantes, — particles of dusi or motes which the 
patient imagines to see upon the eye or in the air. 

Oedema, — a synonymc of anasarca. See Anasarca. 

Oesophagus, — the membranous and muscular tube that de- 
scends in the neck from the pharynx to the stomach ; it 
carries the food into the stomach. 

Orgasm, — an unnatural agitation of the blood. 

Osteo-sarcoma, — a swelling of the bone ; the bone and the 
surrounding ilesh become one putrci\ ing 



201 

Paronychia, — a collection of pus formed in the fingers. 

Patella, — the bone in front of the knee. 

Parotid glands — the gland situated directly behind the ear ; 
the swelling of this gland is called the mumps. 

Prostatic fluid, — a fluid secreted by the prostatic gland 
situated in front of the bladder. 

Polypus, — a bleeding tumour generally found in the nose, 
uterus, or vagina. 

Ptyalism, — a morbid flow of saliva. 

Ramollissement, — see Mollities Ossium. 

Region, — in surgery, a circumscribed part of the body. 

Sarcoma, — a fleshy excrescence. 

Sedatives, — a class of medicines which diminish the ani- 
mal energy. 

Sphacelus, — the highest degree of mortification. 

Sporadic, — this is an epithet for such infections and other 
diseases as seize a few persons at any time or season. 

Spina Ventosa, — a tumour arising from an internal caries 
of a bone. 

Tabes Mucosa, — a wasting away of the mucous membranes. 

Tarsus, — the ankle-joint. 

Tinea Capitis, — the scald head ; a disease characterized by 
small ulcers at the root of the hairs of the head, which 
produce a friable white crust. 

Tissues,— or textures which compose the different organs 
of animals. 

Tonics, — medicines which are supposed to increase the tone 
of the muscular fibre (in the old school of course.) 

Trichiasis, Plica Polonica, — a disease of the hairs, in which 
they become long and coarse, and matted and glued in- 
to inextricable tangles. It is peculiar to Poland, Lithu- 
ania, and Tartary, and generally appears during the au- 
tumnal season. 

Tunica Vaginalis Testis, — one of the covering membranes 
of the testicles. 



202 



Vaccination, — the insertion of the matter of cow-pox. 

Varix, — a dilatation of a vein. 

Vesicatories, — -applications which, exciting inflammation 
on the skin, occasion a thin serous fluid to be poured from 
the exhalants, raise the cuticle, and form the appearance 
of a vesicle. 



THE EJfR 



TABLE OP CONTENTS. 



Of the nature of chronic diseases 13 

Psora 21 

Critical remarks upon the treatment of psora .... 30 

Cases illustrative of the bad treatment of psora ... 34 

Mode of formation of the psoric syphilitic and sycosic diseases 50 

Symptoms of latent psora 64 

Symptoms characteristic of the secondary diseases of psora . 72 
Names by which the secondary diseases of psora are usually 

designated in treatises on pathology . . . ,105 

Treatment of chronic disease! . 109 

Description and treatment of sycosis Ill 

Description and treatment of syphilis 115 

Treatment of psora 126 

Rules for the use of anti-psoric remedies 157 

Accidents by which the cure of chronic diseases may be dis- 
turbed ....*...... 16G 

Critical remarks on blood-letting 177 

Preparation of the anti-psoric and other homoeopathic remedies 184 
Definition of the most important technical terms, contained in 

this volume ......... 197 



ERRATA. 

Page 13, line 21, instead of doses, read portion*. 

Page 13, line 24, instead of cauteries, read issues. 

Page 22, line 4, instead of local, read erratic. 

Page 36, line 14, and elsewhere, instead of tenia, read tinea. 

Page 72, line 12 and 13, instead of has, read had. 

Page 145, line 15, place a comma after nostra. 



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